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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: Mrs Mariam Abacha <hajiamariam@starspath.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:43:30 +0100
Subject: Your Concern


Attention:Your Concern
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 l 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 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.
Include your personal personal details
Your URGENT response is needed.
Regards,

Hajia Mrs. Mariam Abacha

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