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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: "mariam abacha" <mariamabacha9000@msn.com>
Reply-To: de_ibehesq@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:44:35 +0000
Subject: Urgent Assistance

Dear Sir,



I salute you in the name of the most high God.

I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sani Abacha former
Nigerian Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac
Arrest. Since my husband’s death, my family has been under restriction of
movement, we are being molested and constantly harassed by the security
officials.

Above all, our Bank accounts here and abroad have been frozen by the Nigeria
Govt. Furthermore, my eldest son is being hounded by the Nigerian Government
for more interrogation about my husband’s assets and some vital documents.

Following the recent discovery of my husband’s bank account by the Nigerian
Government with my son’s bank in which a huge sum of US 700 million Dutch
Mark, & another $450 million was also lodge and 316 Million Pounds Sterling
belonging to my late husband, all the said fund was seized by the Government
of Nigeria.

I therefore wish to personally appeal to you seriously and religiously for
your urgent assistance to transfer the sum of $18.5million US Dollars into
your account in your country where I believe it will be safe, since we
cannot leave the country due to the restriction of movement imposed on the
members of my family by the Nigerian Government.

You can advise us on areas where we can invest in abroad, already we are
presently thinking of real estates or any blue-chip investment.

You can reach my lawyer(Barr. Dennis Ibeh Esq) on his direct email address
de_ibehesq@yahoo.fr as a copy of this letter is equally sent to him in
confidence.

Any advise should be directed to my lawyer for security reasons.

Upon receipt of your good response. My lawyer shall arrange on how to
facilitate the smooth transfer of the fund.

As soon as you indicate your interest. My lawyer shall send to you the
Security Deposit Certificate and Airway Bill of the luggage and other
related documents so that you can arrange how and where the luggage tagged
“Family Treasures” from an African king will be deposited.

Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 30% of the total sum while 70% in
collaboration with my lawyer to be held on trust by you until we can decide
on what to do next, subsequent to our free movement by the Nigerian
Government.

Please reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Mariam Abacha.


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