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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: "FRANK BELLO..." <drowusuj@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: bello_f005@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:03:40 +0000
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH...

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY CONTACTING YOU WILL BE GIVEN
GENIUNE APPROVAL I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.I AM FRANK USMAN FROM REPUBLIC OF
SUDAN IN AFRICA. I WRITES TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVESTMAND TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY.I AM THE FIRST
SON OF MR USMAN BELLO,WHO WAS THE THE CHIEF IN THE RICH DIAMOND MINING VILLAGE IN SOUTH DARFUR IN SUDAN. MY FATHER
WAS ATTACKED AND SHOT BY THE REBELS ON HIS WAY TO HIS HOUSE, ALONG WITH MY SISTER.MY SISTER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE
U.N.PEACE KEEPING FORCE RESCUED MY FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION WHICH HE LATER DIED .IT
WAS AT THIS THAT THE CHIEF UN PEACE ENVOY A FRIEND TO MY FATHER[ MR JOHN PRONK ]THEN ARRENGED ANARMY PLANE TO
CONVEY ME AND MY MOTHER MRS ALICIA USMAN TO GHANA-ACCRA.

ABOUT TEN DAYS NOW BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME ABOUT THE BOX CONTAINING TWELVE MILLION U S DOLLARS .WHICH
HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE
BOX TO THE SECURITY COMPANY,HE DEPOSITED IT AS ART WORKS FOR EXPORT.TO AVOID THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS.
FOR YOUR FORIEGN ASSISTANCE MYSELF AND MY MOTHER MRS ALICIA USMAN HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL
AMOUNT IF THE CONSIGNMENT CAN BE DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME AND CUSTODY ABROAD.WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE
DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU THROUGH FAX ON REQUEST I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON
APART FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS VERY VERY CONFIDENTIAL.SEND ME YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX FOR MORE
INFORMATIONS.

BEST REGARDS,

FRANK USMAN.
233 277 164 217.



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