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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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Fraud email example:

From: <hajia19651@bluehyppo.com>
Reply-To: <hajia1965@web-mail.com.ar>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 06:46:10 -0700
Subject: INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS

INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS
I am Hajia Mariam Abacha from Nigeria. I am interested in investing
part of my
money(US$30m) in your business.All I need from you is absolute trust
and honesty in the transaction.
This money was deposited with a security company with a special
intruction or
order that it will be claimed by a foreigner.This was the year 2000.
Recently, I contacted the security company to know the situation of the
consignment containing the USD30m but they told me that I have to
forward to them the name of the beneficiary(someone to claim the consignment). It is in this light that I am contacting
you.
If you are interested, send down your full names, address, telephone
number.
which I will send to the security as the beneficiary of the consignment
and for a change of ownership to be done in your name.

You have nothing to lose in this transaction.

Hajia Mariam Abacha

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