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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: hadjia_1@handbag.com
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:58:57 -0700
Subject: proposal from mariam

Dear Sir
Assalam 'aleykum!
PLEADING FOR YOUR HELP AND BUSINESS INVESTMENT ADVICE.

This might seem very deplorable for a person that you do not know but
as the title implies I am Dr Mrs Mariam Abacha, wife of the late
General Sani Abacha

I am contacting you due to the present situation as regards The
special panel set up by the present democratic administration in my
country (Nigeria) under the anti-corruption law passed mainly to
recover what they termed "Abacha's looted money". This law is yet
another smear campaign aimed mainly to frustrate, humiliate, dismember
and widen the scope of Hatred to our family. A personal vendetta by
President Obasanjo who was jailed by my husband's Government for
plotting a coup d 'etat against his administration.

This highly calculated attempt by this administration cum Swiss
Government through bi-lateral relationship has taken away from us over
US$1.4billion in Switzerland. The rampaging situation in our accounts
abroad has yielded to the barbaric pressure and just last month we
were
squished out of another US$395m and all this funds can be ascertained
independently.

You may wish to confirm this from a leading newspaper in Nigeria
(This Day) from their website at www.thisdayonline.com from the
archives section in the March 10,2001, January 26,2002 and FEBRUARY
21,2002 editions. This government is bent on destroying our family.
You
may be aware that my son (Mohammed), heir apparent to the family just
got out of prison after 3 years of detention. Therefore, I am
soliciting for genuine partners that I can invest the family fortune
that is scattered all over the world. According to my estimation in
West Africa alone we still have about US$85m in cash in a Security
Company that we intend to invest abroad through your assistance. For
the purpose of investment in areas of your interest, contact me as a
handsome reward of 20%of the total sum awaits you, subject to our
negotiation and agreement.

You can contact me via my e-mail for security reason for further
details for now.
Sincerely,

Dr Mrs Mariam Abacha.

Tel:234-80-42675330

___________________________________________________________

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