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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: miriam abacha <miriamabacha_239@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 01:21:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CRY FOR HELP


DEAR FRIEND,

I GOT YOUR ADDRESS FROM A BUSINES CONSULTANT ON MY REQUEST FOR A FOREIGN BUSINESSMAN OR FIRM. I DID NOT DISCLOSE THE EXACT KIND OF BUSINESS I HAVE IN MIND TO THE CONSULTANT.

I AM MRS MARIAM ABACHA ,WIFE OF THE FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA I AM SEEKING FOR A RELIABLE FOREIGNER WHO WILL ASSIST ME TO INVEST SOME HUGE AMOUNT OF USD.

MY FAMILY ARE UNDER SERIOUS MONITORING BY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT DUE TO HEAVY AMOUNT OF MONEY MY HUSBAND LOOTED, ALL OUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN FROZEN AND CONFISCATED.

I WAS VERY POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL DURING MY HUSBAND REGIME BUT I DO NOT HAVE FOREIGN CONTACTS HENCE MY REASON FOR MAKING THIS KIND OF CONTACT WITHOUT EVEN HAVING MET YOU BEFORE.

I WOULD WANT AN ASSURANCE FROM YOU THAT YOU WILL BE VERY HONEST AND ALSO KEEP THIS BUSINESS CONCEALED FROM OTHER EARS! . HOWEVER THIS BUSINESS DEMANDS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIME.

THE MONEY IN QUESTION WAS KEPT WITH A SECURITY COMPANY BY ABACHA WHEN HE WAS ALIVE, THE MONEY WAS MEANT TO BE USED TO LOBBY PRESIDENT OF OTHER AFRICAN NATIONS SO THAT HE WILL GET ALL THE SUPPORTS HE NEED TO PERPETUATE HIMSELF IN POWER.

THE SECURITY COMPANY IS NOT AWARE OF THE CONTENT BECAUSE MY LATE HUSBAND USED HIS INFLUENCE TO KEEP THE CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING MONEY AS PRECIOUS STONES WHEREAS THE REAL CONTENT IS AMERICAN U.S DOLLARS.

I HAVE ALREADY MADE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH A DIPLOMAT WHO HAS AGREED TO HELP ME FREIGHT THE CONSIGNMENT OUT OF MY COUNTRY, I TOLD HIM TOO, THAT THE CONSIGNMENT CONTAINS PRECIOUS STONES. HIS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE IN MOVING OUT THE MONEY.

YOU WILL CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THE CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING MONEY. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A COUNTRY WHERE WILL BE VERY CONDUCIVE FOR US ALL.
I WILL TELL YOU THE AMOUNT INVOLVED WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU AND ALSO YOUR PERCENTAGE.

I WILL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION WHEN I RECEIVE YOUR REPLY.
REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT I WON?T CONTACT ANY OTHER PERSON.

BEST REGARDS
MRS MARIAM ABACHA.






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