joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Mamad Mariam Abacha <mrsmariam57@netscape.net>
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 18:04:53 +0200
Subject: Reply


MY DEAR
I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen.
Sanni Abacha former Nigeria 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
Civilian Government.
Furthermore, my elder son is in detention by the
Nigeria Government for more interrogation about my
husbands assets and some vital documents.
Following the recent discovery of my husbands Bank
Account by the Nigeria 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 I was able to move out the sum of
US$45.5 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 I believe it will be
safe since.I AM NOW IN AMSTERDAM HOLLAND I cannot leave the country now
due
to the restriction of movement imposed on the members of my family by
the
Government.
Please kindly send me your telephone number,fax
number and also your full names,address which I will
hand over to my attorney to prepare you on how to
claim the funds from the security company.
However, arrangements have been put in place to move
this money out of the country in a secret vault
through a security company, and as soon as you
indicate your interest my Lawyer shall send you the
Air-Way Bill of the Luggage and other related
documents so that you can help to claim the Luggage.
Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 30% of the
total sum while 60% is to be foe me and my family for
profitiable
business investment which you will advice me on.
in your country subsequent to our free movement by the
Nigeria Government.
While 10% is mapped out for expenses as your
government may demand for tax and it also coves your
telephone bills. Please reply urgently and treat with
absolute confidentiality and sincerity.
NB:Please before you reply me this mail,i would like you to
first go through this website.Switzerland Bank has
also agreed to give back my family some of
our money.kindly view the website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/1935646.stm
Best regards.
Alternative email ID: mrs_mariam_57@yahoo.ie
HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA (MRS).

Anti-fraud resources: