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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: "Ahmed Coulibally" <ahmed_coulibally@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ahmed_coulibally1@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 10:17:08 +0100
Subject: A Trust Management Information.

I am pleased to introduce myself; my name is Ahmed Coulibally, a native of South Africa, and an employee of South Africa Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources currently here in London, United Kingdom on official trade mission.

I am writing this letter to request your assistance in order to redeem an investment interest currently held under trust with the South African Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources. The said investment now valued at $4,825,750 million USD was originally purchased by the investor and leased to the FREE STATE CONSOLIDATEED MINING COMPANY in 1975.

Since maturity of this investment in September 1998, several attempts have been made without success to contact the said investor. And there is no way to contact any of his relatives in whose favor the investment value can be paid.

My partner who is the account director at the same ministry and his colleague have carefully initiated the process of filing a claim for this money, with the hope of transferring this money abroad under your trust, since you have the same last name as was the initial investor. My partners will file a claim for this money indicating that you were appointed by the investor to be the beneficiary to this fund. When the claim is approved, you as beneficiary will be paid the sum of $4,825,750 million USD.

I would like to assure you that there is absolutely nothing to worry about in view of this claim; it is perfectly safe with no risk involved. This claim is also secured from all forms of inquiries because my partners will be handling it directly on your behalf in South Africa. Please ensure to keep this matter strictly confidential because we are still in active government service in South Africa.

Since the money will be paid directly to any bank of your choice, you have a responsibility to ensure that my partners and I receive 60% of the total sum, while keeping 40% for your assistance. The percentages stated shall be applied to the balance, after applicable taxes and/or any other deductions associated with this claim have been made.

I want to assure you that my partners are in a position to make payment of this claim possible, provided you are ready to meet with us to give us very strong guarantee that our share will be well secured, and that you will not take advantage of our position in this deal. If this proposal is acceptable to you, please reach me at my confidential email address: ahmed_coulibally@hotmail.co.uk .

Truly yours,

Mr. Ahmed Coulibally.


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