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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 ABACHA" <marriama@terra.com.mx> (may be fake)
Reply-To: abbamarriam@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:32:07 +0200
Subject: FROM MARIAM

My Dear,

Following the sudden death of my husband General
Sani Abacha the late former head of state of Nigeria
in june (1998), I have been thrown into a state of
utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the
present civilian administration, I have been
subjected to physical and psychological torture by
the security agents in the country.

My son is still under detention arraigned before the
federal high court of Nigeria for an offence he did
not commit. As a widow that is so traumatized,I have
lost confidence with anybody within the country. You
must have heard over the media reports and the
internet on the recovery of various huge sums of
money deposited by my late husband in different security
firms abroad,some companies willingly give up their
secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged
there or many outright blackmail. In fact the total
sum discovered by the Government so far is in the
tune of ($700 MILLION USD)Million dollars.

And they are not relenting to make me poor for life.
I got your contacts through my personal research,
and out of desperation decided to reach you through
this medium.I will give you more information as to
this regard as soon as you reply. I repose great
confidence in you hence my approach to you due to
security network placed on my day to day affairs I
cannot afford to visit the embassy so that is why I
decided to contact you and I hope you will not
betray my confidence in you.

My late husband deposited the sum of ($20,000,000,00 USD)
TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS
with a security firm abroad whose name is witheld
for now until we open communication.I shall be
grateful if you could receive this fund into your
account for safe keeping.This arrangement is known
to you and my son alone, so my son will
deal directly with you as security is up my whole
being.I am seriously considering to settle down
abroad in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon
as this fund get into your account so that I can
start all over again if only you wish, but if it is
impossible,just help me in diverting this fund into
your account and note that my son and i have agreed
to compensate you with (25%) of the total sum .

Please honesty is the watch word in this
transaction. I will require your telephone and fax
numbers so that we can commence communication
immediately and I will give you a more detailed
picture of things. In case you dont accept please do
not let me out to the security as I am giving you
this information in total trust and confidence .I
will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in
good faith. Please expedite action.

Get back to me with this email address(abbamarriam@yahoo.co.uk).

sincerely yours,

Mariam Hajia Abach



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