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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Tukur Lawal r" <lawaltukur@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mariam_mariamabac@yahoo.ie
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 08:15:13 +0000
Subject: My family need your urgent assistance!

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 outside Nigeria.

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
my contineous house arrest, 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 these 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 firm with the
help of our family lawyer and the 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 which my family will
work out with you in due course.

Please kindly reply to (mariam_mariamabac@yahoo.ie ),inclcude your
personal
telephone number,fax number and account details where
the fund would be transferred.
Your urgent response is needed.
Kindest Personal Regards,

Dr. Mrs.Mariam Abacha


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