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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "IBRAHIM ALI" <alibrahim_aliibrahim@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 20:42:46 +0100
Subject: ASSALAM

Assalammu Alaikum warahmatollah wabarkatoh,

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met. I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail.I have to say
that I have no intentions of causing you any pains so i decided to contact you through this medium .As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.

My name is Ibrahim Ali, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been
diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer that was discovered
very late due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all
form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few months to live
according to medical experts I once asked members of my family to close
one of my accounts and donate the money, which I have there to charity
organization in Bulgaria; they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with
what I have left for them.

The last of my money which is the huge cash deposit that I have with
Financial Firm Abroad .I will want you to help me collect this deposit
and dispatched it to charity organizations and let them know that it is
I IBRAHIM ALI that is making this generous donation .

Thanks
Ibrahim Ali


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