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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: "mike usman" <mikeusman20@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_mikeusman@atmail.com
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:26:43 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

FROM THE DESK OF:
BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS.
PERSONAL LAWYER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA.
 
ATTN:
MY NAME IS BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS, I AM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND I HAVE A CLIENT WHO IS INTERESTED IN INVESTING SOME GOOD MONEY IN YOUR COMPANY.MY CLIENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT PERSON WHO HAS MANDATED ME TO CONTACT YOU OR YOUR COMPANY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS
 
TRANSACTION.MY CLIENT IS BY NAME MR. CHARLES TAYLOR AND HE WAS THE FORMAL PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA.
MR. CHARLES TAYLOR MADE ALOT OF MONEY THROUGH GOLD/DIAMOND, OIL PROCEEDS DURING HIS TENURE IN OFFICE. THE TRUTH OF THIS CASE IS THAT MY CLIENT DESPITE THE PROBLEM HE IS GOING THROUGH NOW, HE STILL HAS A LOT OF MONEY IN HIS
 
POSSESSION WHICH HE INTENDS TO INVEST OUTSIDE THE SHORE OF AFRICA TO AVIOD HARRASMENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL. WHAT MY CLIENT NEEDS FROM YOU NOW IS YOUR TRUST AND WILLINGNESS TO CLAIM THE FUND WHERE IT'S PRESENTLY DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE.BUT BEAR IN MIND THAT WE NEED DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN OURSELVES AND I WILL HAVE YOUR ASSURANCE THAT UNDER TO CIRCUMSATNCES WILL YOU EXPOSE HIS PLAN TO REMIT AND POSSIBLY INVEST IN YOUR
 
COMPANY. SO HE HAS AGREED THAT I SHOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CLAIM OF US$250 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, THEN IF HE FINDS YOU RELIABLE, YOU WILL STILL RECIEVE THE REMAINING US$25O MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND YOU ARE FREE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR MODE OF COMPENSATION EVEN IF HE NTENDS TO INVEST THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY. VIEW THE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS
 
 
PLEASE, DO NOT HESITATE TO INDICATE YOUR VIEW OF THIS REQUEST BY CONTACTING ME IMMEDIATELY VIA MY PERSONAL EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS AND CLEARIFICATION. DUE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MY CLIENT, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS REQUEST BE KEPT HIGHLY CONFIDENTAIL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED.
 
I HOPE MY CLIENT WOULD BE HAPPY INVESTING WITH YOU.IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT FORGET TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS WHEN REPLYING.
 
THANKS,
BARRISTER MIKE .U. ADAMS

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