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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: HAJIA MARIA <hajiamariamabacha@tsamail.co.za>
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:20:46 +0200
Subject: URGENT NEED OF A BUSINESS PARTNER/CONFIDANT.


DEAR SIR/MA
PLEASE RESPOND TO MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX (hajia54@netscape.net)
URGENT NEED OF A BUSINESS PARTNER/CONFIDANT.
MY NAME IS, HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA, THE WIFE OF THE LATE HEAD OF STATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH THE LISTED POSTAL
ADDRESS IN YOUR COUNTRY.
SINCE MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND THE TIGHT GRIP ON MY HUSBAND ASSESTS BOTH HOME AND ABROAD IS NOW TELLING ON THE FAMILY, SINCE THE NEW CIVILAIN REGIME CAME INTO PLACE.
I AM NOW IN URGENT NEED OF A PARTNER/CONFIDENT
THROUGH WHOM I CAN DEPOSIT SOME MONEY IN HIS/HER BANK ACCOUNT.
THIS MONEY WAS DEPOSITED BY MY LATE HUSBAND IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE,AMOUNTING
TO THE SUM OF US$30,000,000.00 (THRETY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY).
THE PARTNER I SEEK MUST BE ONE THAT IS TRUSWORTHY AND MUST SEND ME A LETTER OF ASSURANCE THAT HE/SHE IS NOT GOING TO BETRAY MY TRUST.
PLEASE, IF YOU LACK SUCH A CLOUT TO HANDLE A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE, DO NOT HESITATE
TO LINK ME TO A RELIABLE FRIEND, OLD SCHOOL MATE OR A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH A RELIABLE GRIP ON THE SYSTEM, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THE DETAILS OF WHAT WOULD ACCRUE TO PAY FOR YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE MADE MANIFEST WHEN YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST, AND , IT?S NEGOTIABLE. YOU ARE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY AS I HAVE BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
BE FURTHER INFORMED THAT THESE FUND(S) IS SECURED IN A SECURITY VAULT IN EUROPE AS A FAMILY TREASURE WORTY 30 MILLION DOLLARS AND SECRETLY DEFACED AND IS CODED FOR SECURITY REASONS, THIS COULD BE RELEASED AT SHORT NOTICE WHEN A WILLING AND ACCEPTABLE PARTNER EMERGES. YOU ARE TO MEET WITH THE SECURITY COMPANY, ACTING AS MY FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE AND I WILL SEND TO YOU ALL THE DOCUMENT THAT COVER THIS FUND.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SEND TO ME YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS SO THAT I CAN HAVE CONTACT WITH YOU. PLEASE, DO NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO HANDLE THE DEMURRAGES
AND TAXES, WHILE REFUND WILL BE MADE AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION,WHEN THE FUND WOULD HAVE BEEN SECURED IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
View this web site for more info
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3577032.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3333557.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2492425.stm
PLEASE RESPOND TO MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX (hajia54@netscape.net)
REGARDS,
HAJIA. MARIAM ABACHA

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