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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: "alhaji bello muman" <alhajibellomuman@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: martinbackhaus4help@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 07:43:27 -0400
Subject: A HEART FULL OF HOPE

DEAR SIR/MADAM,
 
IT IS WITH A HEART FULL OF HOPE THAT I WRITE SOLICITING FOR YOUR

STRICT CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET.I HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY MY FAITHTHAT YOU ARE TRUST WORTHY AND YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITIY TO EXECUTE A TRANSACTION OF GREAT MAGNITUDE.

I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH BEACON LYBIAN LTD. A FOREIGN OIL COMPANY BASED IN TRIPOLI LYBIA. BEACON LIBYA WAS INVOLVED IN PROSPECTING,DRILLING AND BUNKERING OF OIL AT HIGH SEA (OFFSHORE),WITH EXPATRIATE CONSISTING MAJORITY OF THE STAFF STRENGTH. UNFORTUNATELY,THESE EXPATRIATES GOT INTO AN ILLEGAL SALE OF OIL AND THE MONEY FROM IT TRANSFERRED THROUGH A SECURITY FINANCE COMPANY OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO SPAIN IN EUROPE, WHERE I AM PRESENTLY LIVING DUE TO THE TRANACTION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF LYBIA DISCOVERED THE ILLEGAL DEAL, REVOKED THEIR LICENCE AND THE EXPATRIATES WERE REPATRIATED. SO, BY VIRTUE OF MY POSITION AS THE ACCOUNTANT OF THE COMPANY, I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION DOCUMENTS CONTAINING INFORMATION TO THESE TRUNK/BOXES DEPOSITED WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY IN SPAIN.THE AMOUNT IS EIGHTY TWO MILLION U.S DOLLARS (US$82M).

MY COLLEAGUES IN AFRICA HAVE PUT IN AN APPLICATION WITH THE SECURITY

COMPANY TO TRANSFER THESE BOXES TO THEIR CORRESPONDENCE OFFICE IN SPAIN WHICH THEY HAVE OBLIGED, AS SOON AS WE GET A BENEFICIARY AND BEING THAT THIS DEAL WAS BEEN CARRIED OUT BY A FOREIGN FIRM, WE NEED A TRUSTWORTHY FOREIGNER LIKE YOU THAT WILL ASSIST US TO A LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF THIS PENDING BUSINESS WHICH BOTH OF US WILL BOUND TO BENEFIT FROM EARNESTLY.

ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND BEFORE THE SECURITY FINANCE COMPANY AND SIGN AS ONE OF THE EXPATRIATES TO ENABLE YOU CLAIM THE MONEY AND PAY IT INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT. PLEASE, NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK-FREE, FOR ALL MODALITIES HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. REMEMBER, THAT I HAVE WITH ME ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT WILL PROVE THAT THE MONEY IS FOR US. I EXPECT YOU TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND KIND ENOUGH TO KEEP MY OWN SHARE, WHEN THE MONEY HITS YOUR ACCOUNT. I HEREBY AGREE TO COMPENSATE YOUR SINCERE AND CANDID EFFORT IN THISREGARD WITH 20% OF THE FUND AFTER THE TRANSFER AND 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION, TELEPHONE BILLS ETC,WILL BE SETTLED FROM THIS PERCENTAGE, WHILE 75% WILL BE FOR ME AND THE OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES.THIS DEAL WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS.
I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SOONEST RESPONSE,AND I SOLICIT YOUR
CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION. PLEASE,REPLY TO ME VIA MY E-MAIL
YOURS TRULY

ALHAJIMUMAN  BELLO

 

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