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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "osadabey micheal" <eco_osadabey02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: eco_osadabey@walla.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:44:19 +0000
Subject: Attention:Sir/Madam

ECO BANK OF WEST AFRICA,
LOME TOGO,
FUND TRANSFER UNIT
FROM THE DESK OF,
OSADABEY MICHAEL RICHARDS,
INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE UNIT,

Attention:Sir/Madam
With all due respect,my name is Mr. Osadabey Michael Richards. I am 52yrs
old, I am the Director In charge of Wire Transfer through Key Tested Telex
(K.T.T), and wire transfer bank to bank (swift system) of Eco Bank of West
Africa. My department is in charge of all the Foreign Remittance and
operational software that is to be undertaken by our apex bank Eco Bank of
West Africa.
I have being mandated to solicit for you cooperation in transfering the sum
of usd 20.5 millon dollars into your account. The said amount belonged to
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Governor of an oil rich state in a neighbouring
country Nigeria.You are advised to enter this site to corrobate what i am
saying,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4291350.stm
I have being given power of attorney to transfer this fund to a trustworthy
person inorder to prevent the government from confiscating his estate with
our bank. The transaction is 100% risk free because I will destroy and
obliterate all information and the softwares used in transfering the fund
including the diskett so that there won't be traces. Immediately that is
done, I will resign from my work and run away to meet you in your country.
The Governor's family has set aside 40% as your share for facilitating the
transfer of the fund to your account and the family will retain 60% of the
fund.So I crave for your cooperation so that I can wire the fund into your
nominated account and thereafter I will meet you at your choice country for
sharing using the formular above. I want you to send forthwith your
particulars so that I commence action and will directly wire the fund into
you nominated account via (SWIFT PROCESS).
Please, send me a go ahead order immediately through my e-mail address,
So that we can go ahead with the procurement of the
Diskette for the transfer. You cooperation is solicited so that this fund is
not confiscated or frozen by the government. Once again, you are advised to
forward all your information to me for this transfer to enable me proceed
without any further delay. I am waiting to hear from you soon.
Thanks and God bless you,
Mr. Osadabey Michael Richards.

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