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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: "tafa balogun" <tafabalogun1@msn.com>
Reply-To: tafabalogun1860@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 12:30:35 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP !!

Attn: Sir/Madam

I was until Monday, 17th January 2005 the Inspector General of Police in
Nigeria. The Government woke up and announce my UNTIMELY RETIREMENT without
any official statement.

My accounts in Switzerland and London which has about US$200 Million and
US$150 Million Dollars respectively (all my life's savings) has been frozen
by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visit the
BBC publication on this; <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4184257.stm>

But apart from the frozen Switzerland and London accounts, there is another
sum of US$27.5 Million that i deposited with a Finance/Security Company in
Spain which the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
does not know about the existence.

I want you to assist me to claim and transfer this sum into your personal
account for safe keeping pending the outcome of the investigation. My
family's passports have been siezed and my son and wife placed under house
arrest.

All I require is your honest cooperation to get this consignment claimed and
transferred to you. I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me by my email.

I would be grateful if this mail will be favoured with an early response.

Regards,

Tafa Balogun


Anti-fraud resources: