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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: "Mrs Hajia Mariam Abacha" <tommywalter@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: femideputy_intercontinetalbank@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 15:32:04 +0000
Subject: CRY FOR HELP.

FROM: MRS MARIAM ABACHA
KANO-NIGERIA


Dear,
I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha former
Nigerian Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac
Arrest.

Since after my husband’s death my family is under restriction of movement
and that not withstanding, we are being molested, policed and our bank
Account both here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigeria Government.

Furthermore, my elder son is in detention by the Nigerian Government for
more interrogation about my husband’s assets and some vital documents.

Following the recent discovery of my husband’s Bank Account by the Nigerian
Government with Swiss Bank in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and DM450
Million was logged. I therefore decided to contact you in confidence that l
was able to move out the sum of US$28.6 Million Dollars, which was secretly
defaced and is sealed in two Metal Boxes for security reasons.

I therefore personally, appeal to you seriously and religiously for your
urgent assistance to move this money into your country where l believe it
will be safe since l cannot leave the country due to the restriction of
movement imposed on the members of my family by the Nigeria Government.

My lawyer shall arrange with you for a face to face meeting outside Nigeria
in order to liaise with you toward effective completion of this money out of
the country in a secret vault through a security company in America/Europe,
and as soon as you indicate your interest my Lawyer shall send you the
Air-Way Bill of the Luggage and other related documents that will help you
claim the Luggage.

Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 30% of the total sum while 70% is
to be held on trust by you until we can decide on a suitable business
investment in your country subsequent to our free movement by the Nigerian
Government.

Please reply urgently to me private mail (widowmariamabacha@yahoo.com) and
treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.

Best regards.

HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA (MRS).


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