joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "MR.OBASEKI WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjohnatuga@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 12:30:49 +0100
Subject: Your Bank Draft

Dear Friend,

I am very happy to alert you that i have been able to get those funds worth
the sum of $3.5M transferred under a co-operation of new business partner
from Australia.
Now be advised to contact my Lawyer John Atuga and ask him for the
sum of Eight hundred and fifty united states dollars ($850,000.00usd) in a
certified international bank draft written and signed in your name for your
compensation.
Name: BARRISTER JOHN ATUGA
Phone: +234-807-335-5403

Endeavor to get me informed once you receive your certified bank draft with
you.Also be advised to reconfirm to him your full information such as your
name,current phone number for easy communications and as well your address
where the said bank draft would be delivered.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.OBASEKI WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources: