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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "DONALD WILLIAMS" <donald_williams4315@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:16:51 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY

It is with the utmost feeling of regret and grief that
I contact you concerning the unexpected and untimely
death of the
Nigerian First Lady,Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo who
died in the late hours of Saturday,22nd October 2005
after complications
following a Surgery at the Clínica de Cirugía Estética
Molding ,Puerto Banús,Spain.
I was one of the First Lady's close aides, precisely
her Chief Personal Adviser, to be present at her dying
bed at the Clínica Marbella. See following references for more
information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4368806.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/10/23/obasanjo.obituary/index.html
I reveal to you in utmost confidence and due to the
urgency at hand. I was handling a highly classified
transaction on behalf
of the First Lady which involved the Transfer of US$70
million oil sale proceeds. The funds in question were
to be
transferred to a disguised beneficiary's account due
to the sensitive nature of such a position as the Seat
of the First Lady of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On Thursday,5th January2006, I tendered Transfer
Instructions for the aforementioned amount
on behalf of the First Lady to the Holden bank.
Note very importantly the transfer instruction did not bear
any beneficiary
information due to inconclusive agreement signing
between the First Lady and the intended beneficiary.
Therefore, the purpose of my mail is to seek your
assistance in the sense that you stand in as the
Transfer Beneficiary.I will also like to let you know that we
have been transfering money in this way outside our country
with The first lady.
With the current situation in the country, all
unofficial financial transactions relating to the
First Lady are been swept "under the carpet”. This I
intend we take advantage of.
There is room for negotiation on the Terms and
Conditions of Partnership regarding this proposal.At
the moment only you and I
know the current status of this Transaction.
At the moment only you and I know the current status
of this Transaction.The Holden bank expected the Fund
Beneficiary
Information to be forwarded as soon as possible,
 I had confirmed to them on Friday that the information
were ready and to
be forwarded before the end of January 2006.
With these brief detailing it is clear that
time is not on my side. I
expect a response from you confirming your interest
within 24 hours of mail receipt.
I am emboldened by the fact that successful business
transaction around the world is based on mutual
understanding and trust.
Upon receipt of your response, documents confirming
the Transaction Status will be forwarded to you
accordingly.
Contact me via :d_williams@she.com
Regards,
Donald Williams
Chief Personal Adviser
Office of the First Lady
Presidency, Nigeria
 

 

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