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: "Mrs munirat fatima abacha" <muniratfatima0000@handbag.com>
Reply-To: muniratfatimaabacha0000@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:00:45 +0100
Subject: can you handle this

Dear,

I am highly compelled upon strict recommendation, to write you this
very urgent and confidential letter. I do hope my letter will not embarrass
you since I had no previous correspondence with you.I am sending this proposal
with due sense of humanity, responsibility and with few awareness that you
will give it a sympathetic attention. I regret the inconvenience it may cause
you based on the condition that we have not met before.

Please view this site and read it's content
carefully,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/468903.stm


I am Mrs. Munirat Fatima Abacha, the wife of Mohammed Abacha, son of
the late head of state of Federal Republic of Nigeria - General Sani
Abacha.I am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance
to each other like wise developing a cordial relationship. My husband along
with his late father and top officials of there past administration has been
accused of looting several Billion Dollars from the Nigeria Government.
The current attitude of the present government towards my family has indeed
made life quite unbearable for us. Fortunately, Mohammed my Husband has Eighteen
million and Six hundred thousand Dollars cash, which he intended to use for
investment. This money is kept in a private security company. This money
was deposited for safe keeping in the security vault of a freighting agency
here by my husband preparatory to being air lifted abroad for investment
purposes before his arrest leaving a clause that an expatriate partner could
only claim it. It is only my husband and myself that know where the money
is kept. Due to the current situation in the country concerning government?s
vendettas towards my family, we seek your assistance to transfer this money
out of Nigeria for the purpose of investment as intended by my husband.
Note that my family is currently being probed by this present government
for alleged involvement in misappropriation of public funds during my father-in-law's
regime. Towards this effect, an embargo restricting my family members from
travelling or carrying out financial transactions without their express permission
is in force. Right now, my husband (Mohammed) is under arrest and is
being detained in connection to the above and other activities of his late
father.
However, I have an arrangement on how to freight this money to you
after receiving some assurances from you of the safety our own share and
that you will only take the commission that we will offer you. This money
personally belongs to my husband and he intends that it still be used for
investment.
The freighting company to be used has now been introduced to me and as soon
as we receive your readiness to assist us receives this fund we shall formalize
the deposit documents in your name and reach an agreement with them to air
lift the consignment for your pick up. Bearing in mind that your assistance
is needed to transfer this fund, we propose a commission of Fifteen Percent
(15%) of the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance.
While 5% is mapped out for miscellaneous expenses. On your positive consent,
I shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss about this.
Your urgent response is highly needed. I must use this opportunity to implore
you to exercise utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential,
while I await your prompt response.

Best regards,
MRS. MUNIRAT FATIMA ABACHA

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/


Anti-fraud resources: