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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: tessy_diarra@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:42:04 -0700
Subject: YOUR UGENT IS HIGH NEEDED

DEAR
FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY
DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPROVAL
CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH OTHER
BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
MYSELF TO YOU.
I AM TESSY DIARRA FROM LIBERIA IN WEST AFRICA I WRITES
TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST,AND TO BUY A LIVING
HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE FIRST DAUGHTER OF
MR.TONY DIARRA HE WAS A DIAMOND MERCHANT IN MY
COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE REBELS ON
HIS WAY TRAVELLING TO LUSIA A CITY AFTER FREETOWN THE
CAPITAL ALONG WITH MY ELDER BROTHER.MY BROTHER DIED ON
THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE KEEPING FORCE RESCUED MY
FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
WHICH HE LATER DIED ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW.
BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT
THE BOXES CONTAINING $12.5 MILLION US DOLLARS.WHICH HE
DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE
KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE
BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPANY.TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS
FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY MYSELF
AND MY MOTHER ARE HERE IN GHANA TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY
COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS,AND WE ARE STAYING IN THE
REFUGEE CAMP.
THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN
INVEST THIS MONEY,BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS
DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA TO AVIOD
SUSPICIONS,AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN
COUNTRIES,THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IN ABROAD.
FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MYSELF AND MY MOTHER HAVE
AGREED TO OFFER YOU 25%OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE
MONEY.WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE
DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU
THROUGH FAX ON REQUEST.
NOTE:I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART
FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP
SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO
FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.
BEST REGARDS,
TESSY DIARRA.

reply.
tessy2_diarra@yahoo.ca.com



___________________________________________________________

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/


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