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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Umaru Magaji" <Umarumagaji_11@voila.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: Umarumagaji@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 21:41:37 +0200
Subject: URGENT RESEPONSE


Umaru Magaji (Esq.)
5-9 Constitution Cresent Avenue
Dakar-Senegal

Attention:President/CEO
I am Umaru Magaji (Esq.), a Senegalese Solicitor & Financial Attorney/Consultant. I was the personal attorney to late Mr.Abubar Senghor who died among many others in a car accident along Sicap Express Road, in Dakar Senegal. Before his death, he was an expatriate mining consultant. Mr.Mr.Abubar Senghor here-in-after referred as my client was also a
category"A"contractor for Senegalese National Petroleum Corporation. Mr.Abubar Senghor satisfactorily executed some contracts for Senegalese National Petroleum Corporation and the sum of Fourty five million, five hundred thousand United States of American Dollars is an outstanding debt owe to him for years by the Corporation. Unfortunetely, it is after his death that Contract Award & Suppervisory Committee of the Petroleum Corporation approved his payment and sent notification to my chambers in accordance with my client's instructions-that any correspondence in respect to his dealings with the Petroleum Corporation must go through my chambers. The Petroleum Corporation has consequently asked me to contact his next of kin to claim his outstading contract fee owe to him.

All attempts to trace his next of kin(s) were fruitless. I also discovered that Mr.Abubar Senghor
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents. I am contacting you based on that official letter I received from the Petroleum Corporation which also informs that Senegalese law states that at the expiration of 5(five) years the money will revert to the ownership of the Senegalese Government if I do not confirm the next of kin to claim the fund.

Search in the internet with his name to trace his relations was without success. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.Abubar Senghor so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not go into the hands of corrupt government officials who will share the money if not claimed. Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide expert legal services/documentations that will guaranteeand authenticate you as the true next of kin. I wish to point out that after the claims, I would want 20% of this money to be shared among some charity organizations, while the remaining 80% is shared equally between us. Most importantly, I would also require your assistance towardsinvesting my share in your country or anywhere as you may advice. If you are interested, please contact me immediately with your full name/address, telephone/fax numbers and photograph page of your inter!
ational passport or driver's licence. Upon your response, I shall provideyou with more details and how we shall proceed with this claims. I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality and be restassured that thistransaction would be profitable for both of us.Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks & Regards
Umaru Magaj


Anti-fraud resources: