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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" <mariamabacha_222@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mariam1970@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2005 12:03:22 +0000
Subject: Yours truly,

FROM: MARIA ABACHA
Dear friend,
Following the sudden death of my husband, Late General Sanni Abacha, the
former head of state of the federal Republic of Nigeria in June 1998, I have
been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by
the present civilian administration. Security agents in Nigeria have
subjected me to physical and psychological tortures. One of my sons was
under detention as well as arraigned before a Federal High Court of Nigeria
for an offence he did not commit. As a widow, that is so traumatized, I have
lost hope and confidence in anybody within the country.
You must have heard over the media and the Internet on the recovery of
various huge sums of money deposited by my late husband in different
security firms abroad. Some willingly gave up their secrets and disclosed
our money confidently lodged with them and many out-rightly declined
lodgment. In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is to
the tune of
$700 million dollars. And the government has not relented in its efforts to
completely bring my
children and I back to square one. This is why I deemed it necessary to act
fast by contacting anybody abroad for assistance. Furthermore, due to the
security network placed on my daily activities I cannot afford to visit any
embassy for a possible solution, hence I have decided to contact you and I
do hope you will be the person God is going to use torescue my family and I.
I have deposited the sum of $15 million dollars in a security firm here as
whose name is with held for now for security reasons until we fully commence
communication. I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund on my
behalf for safekeeping. Adequate arrangement has been made for receiving the
fund. It is totally risk free. This arrangement is known to you, my son(who
will be contacting you and I only. This means that my son will deal directly
with you as surveillance is on me.
You are entitled to 20% of the total sum. I hope to invest a proportion of
the balance in your country. Please forward your private Telephone and Fax
numbers so that we can fully commence communication immediately.
I will quite appreciate, if you accept my proposal in good faith. I look
forward to receiving your urgent reply to my plea.You can as well contact my
son through this number:2348023921255
Yours truly,
Hajia Mariam Abacha


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