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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: "mariam musa Keita" <mariammusa@rediffmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mariammusa_keita@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 10:28:57 +0100
Subject: from mariam musa keita

From ;Mrs Mariam Musa Keita.
Hello Dear,
It is my pleasure to contact you today by e-mail and to say
thanks for your effort in providing an opportunity to read
my message. I got your contact when i was making some
searches in the internet. My name is Mrs Aishatu Keita , a
Liberian. I was until recently the wife of Mr. Musa Keita ,
personal aide to ex-president Charles Taylor and also
incharge of distribution of Aids from united Nations to the
less priviledged.My husband and many other aides of the
president were killed by the Army loyal to charles when he
was privy that he was been exposed for diverting relief
materials sent by the United unions for his use leaving me
a widow, i am presently left alone with my three young
kids. During my husband's life time he use his knowledge,
good business skills and expertise to amass temporary world
wealth.This was possible because of his good deeds and his
connection within the government. The money is totalling
US$2.7million. This money was realised from the sales of
gold and diamond ,which are the country's major resources
and sources of income.And before his death ,my husband was
able to send this money via a Ghanian diplomatic contact to
the country ,where it is currently secured in an embassy
vault as a FAMILY TREASURE and my name was used as the
depositor in view of my husband,s position as an insider in
the government. Now , that I have passed through the
mourning ordeal for my husband I am thinking and planning
the next step to take with respect to how and where to
invest the money. So my aim of sending this mail to you is
to solicit your assistance in transfering this money to
your country where it could be invested in a viable
business for our mutual benefit. I am ready to enter into a
joint venture with your company or we can open a new
company with the money because i'm sure the money inside
the box can establish a company of any type. I want to
assure you that you will be highly rewarded for your
assistance both in cash or in the joint venture. Please
reply to this mail, indicating your ability to handle this
transaction so that i will give you details to enable us
map out strategies for the implementation of this
project.You can see this for your self to confirm as he
charlesTaylor is in exile to Nigeria on the aupices of the
African union but there is a clamour from the intenational
communiity to face trial for all the attrocities he
commited.(http://allafrica.com/stories/200504110590.html)
PLEASE REPLY TO THE SPECIFIED
EMAIL(mariammusa_keita@yahoo.com)
Best regards,
Mariam Musa Keita


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