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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: "MARIAM ABACHA" <mariam_aba27@msn.com>
Reply-To: drmariamabacha_info@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 22:56:49 +0000
Subject: Attention:Your Concern

Attention:Your Concern


Attention:Your Concern

My Dear Friend,

I am Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigerian Head of state,
General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on
active service for our Country. I am contacting you with the hope that
you will be of great assistance to me, I currently have within my reach
the sum of 24 million U.S dollars cash which I intend to use for
investment purposes outsideNigeria. This money came as a result of a
payback contract deal between my husband and a Russian firm in our
country's multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel plant. The Russian
partners returned my husbands share being the above
sum after his death. Presently, the new civilian
Government has intensified their probe into my
husbands financial resources which has led to the
freezing of all our accounts, local and foreign, the revoking of all
our business licences and the arrest of my First son. In view of this I
acted very fast to withdraw this money from one of our finance houses
before it was closed
down. I have deposited the money in a security company with the help of
very loyal officials of my late husband. No record is known about this
fund by the government because there is no documentation showing that
we received such funds. Due to the current situation in the country and
government attitude to my family, I cannot make use of this money
within, thus I seek your help in transferring this funds out of the
sub-
African region.

Bearing in mind that you may assist me, l have decided to part with 20%
of the total sum. Please kindly reply through this email address and
include your personal telephone and fax numbers. Your URGENT response
is
needed.

Regards,

Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha
http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/27/swiss.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2122878.stm


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