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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Kuma Family" <femiharry1@mrfemiharry.org>
Reply-To: kevjoane@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 08:38:17 +0000
Subject: *FROM: JOANE KUMA

*FROM: JOANE KUMA
ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVIORE
WEST AFRICA
TEL: +22507285505


DEAR FRIEND,

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF ENTERING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU. THIS HOWEVER IS NOT MANDATORY NOR WILL I IN ANY MANNER COMPEL YOU
TO HONOUR AGAINST YOUR WILL.

I PRAYED OVER CONTACTING YOU DUE TO IT'S ESTEEMING NATURE I WANT TO CONFIDE
IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.

I JOANE KUMA THE DAUGHTER OF LATE DR AND MR ALFRED KUMA, MY FAHTER WAS A
VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN. THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY
COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, ON ONE OF
THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS DEAL.

WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 2001. MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL
BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER IN 2004 IN A PRIVATE
HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME
THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$2.350.000 (TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A LOCALFINANCIAL FIRM HERE IN
ABIDJAN.

HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS
POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN
PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE
IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE. (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).

I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS :

TO HELP US CONTACT THE FINANCIAL FIRM WHERE THIS MONEY IS DEPOSITED TO BE
TRANSFERED TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND AND MY
YOUNGER BROTHER KEVIN IS 16 YEARS. TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR US TO COME OVER
TO YOUR COUNTRY TO FURTHER OUR EDUCATION AND TO SECURE A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT
IN YOUR COUNTRY.

MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR
YOUR EFFORT INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR
NOMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS.

FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE
THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS UPON
CONTACTING THE BANK AS SOON AS YOU SIGNIFY YOUR INTEREST TO ASSIST ME.

I WILL APPRECIATE YOU CALL ME ON THE RESIDENCE LODGING TELEPHONE NUMBER
+22507285505 OR WRITE ME AN EMAIL. ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. AND
PLEASE DO HURRY TO ASSIST US OUT HERE NOW THAT THIS COUNTRY IS IN POLITICAL
CHOAS, WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR KIND ATTENTION.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS
JOANE AND KEVIN


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