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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: abide john <abide_02@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 14:50:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PRIVATE & CONFIDENCIAL VICTIMNAME


Dear VICTIMNAME,

Please pardon me if you are offended upon receiving this proposal since we have no formal contact.

My name is Abide John and I was the Personal assistance to late Gnassingbe Eyadema, former president of Togo who passed away after a brief illness in few months ago. During my service to him and my country I was loyal and I went on almost every foreign trip he made to deposit or invest Money outside Togo.

Shortly before his death in the first week of February we made a trip to Switzerland on the last week of January and on our way we stopped in Eruop where we deposited a cash of US$21.7 million dollars. Fortunately for me this is one of the very few trips I made without the company of his 3rd son Faure Gnassingbe the then interior Minister, now President of Togo.

I will like you to go to spain where the institution in custody of the fund has an bank and collect this fund either in cash or in check and pay into your account. Where I sincerely believe it will be safe with you until I am able to be with you in your country where I intent to settle down and invest. I am willing to share it 70% for me and 30% for you if you will be Honest with me.

I pray you to take this up immediately. Once you respond to the affirmative I will go ahead and prepare the necessary documentation for you to claim the fund and deposit it in your account. You have nothing to worry about because the original documents of this fund are with me so it will be easy for you to acquire the fund.
Please reply on my email address below as a matter of confidentiality
I await your positive response soonest.

ABIDE JOHN



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