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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "ADAMU IDRIS BELLO" <ffsdoffice2@makler-helfer.de>
Reply-To: <adamuidris2.cbnffsd@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:00:11 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER

                 Central bank of Nigeria
              Fact finding and special duties
               Tinubu square, Lagos Nigeria
 
         
 
 
 
Sir,
 
My name is Alhaji Adamu Idris Bello , I am a director of fact findings and special duties, I was newly appointed to head this department in the apex bank (CBN). And I am a Muslim in pursuit,
 
I came across your file which was marked x and your released disk painted red, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid virtually all fees and certificate but the fund has not been release to you. The most annoying thing is that none of your previous/present friends will tells you the truth that on no account wills they ever release the fund to you, instead they let you spend money unnecessarily.
 
I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, i can get this fund to you through diplomatic means if you can certify me of my security, and how i can run away from this Nigeria if I do this, because if I don't run away from this country after i made the delivery, i will be seriously in trouble and my life will be in danger..
 
I will advise you from this moment to desist from communicating with these unscrupulous elements that paraded themselves to be good innocent people, I want to let you know that if you did not desist from this bad elements that you will continue paying your hard earned money to them and with their endless stories, requesting one certificate to another.
 
I can assure you that since last years this their fraudulent character had started and none of them can pay you the supposed money. Note that all the money you had paid to them were used for their interest/benefits, I reiterated that you should stop any further correspondence with this unbelievers,
 
It is a pity that this people had extorted much money from you but i had personally introduced a device that can be possibly use to pay you all this money without any further documentations, but it must be keep secret because I want to use the method the foreign currencies do came into the country,
 
It will be arranged through diplomatic preference carriage scheme’s will first dispatch two boxes that will contained $10m and of $100 bills to your private address and after receipt of the boxes and you confirm the contents from your bankers,
 
I will finally conclude with the courier company when I heard from you and your assurance of secrecy ,kindly stop any further discussion with these people and do not pay any more money to them or to those called themselves bank officials,
 
I will furnish you with more information’s as soon as i received your confirmation,
 
 
Awaiting your reply 
 
Best regards
Alhaji Adamu Idris Bello

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