joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • meriamabacha1@ummah.org

Fraud email example:

From: "meriam abacha" <meriamabacha200q@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 12:28:08 +0000
Subject: from mrs abacha

HELLO DEAR

I am Mrs. Meriam Abacha wife of the late Nigerian head of state, Gen. Sanni
Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while on active duty. I am
contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of greater assistance to
each other likewise eveloping a cordial business relationship. I currently
have within my reach the sum of thirty five million, five hundred thousand
US dollars (US$35.5) cash, which I intend to use for investment purpose
specifically in your country.

This money came as a result of payback contract deal between my late husband
and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel
Plant. The Russian partners returned just last three months my late
husband's share of US$35.5m and lodged it in my late husband's security
company of which I am the director since the death of my late husband in
1998, the present civilian government has intensified their probe on my late
husband's financial resources and have frozen some of our accounts both here
in nigeria and abroad .

In view of this fact, I acted fast to withdraw the US$35.5m from the
company's vault and deposited it in a private security company in oversea.
No record whatsoever exists concerning this money traceable by the
government of Fed. Rep. of Nigeria because there is no documentation showing
that we received the sum from the Russians.

Due to the current situation of things in my country concerning the
government's attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible for
me to make use of this money within, so i decided to call upon your consent.

I should be expecting you to contact me through this email address{
meriamabacha1@ummah.org}I propose a commission of thirty percent{30%} of the
total sum to you for the expected services and assistance also (5%) for any
expensis incur in the transaction.

Your urgent response is highly needed.

I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise your utmost
indulgence to keep this matter extra ordinarily confidential.

I wait your prompt response.

Mrs meriam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam