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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: "drmustafabello" <drmustafabello@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 07:27:16 -0600
Subject: GOD BE WITH US AS WE WAIT FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY



CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS
EMAIL: mrmustafabello@hotmail.com
ATTN: SIR/MADAM
I AM MR MUSTAFA BELLO, A SENIOR STAFF WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN). I AM WRITING YOU THIS LETTER BECAUSE COOL PENNY IS BETTER THAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT IS BETTER FOR ONE TO LIVE AND DIE POOR HONEST MAN THAN A RICH DISHONEST ONE.I AND THE CHIEF AUDITOR (CA) AND THE CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER (CSO) OF OUR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA HAVE ARRANGED WITH AN OFFICER IN COMPUTER SECTION ENGINEER PETER OLUFEMI TO BRING OUT PART OF YOUR TOTAL CONTRACTUAL SUM.
THE REASON WHILE WE DO THIS IT IS BECAUSE ACCORDING TO INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. COMPUTER, YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME TO RECEIVE YOUR MONEY WITHOUT UCCESS.
AS I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE ALMOST MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACTUAL PAYMENT, YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUPS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PAYMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE MERELY DOING PAPER WORKS WITH YOU ARE NOT STRAIGHT FORWARD ALSO WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE PARASTATALS HAVING THE INTENTION OF EXTORTING MONEY FROM YOU WITH THE PRETEXT OF HELPING YOU RECEIVE YOUR MONEY I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS MAY LAST FOR YEARS YET NOTHING HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT DO AWAY WITH THOSE OFFICERS THAT YOU CALL YOUR PARTNERS. AND FOR SECURITY REASONS DO NOT TELL ANYBODY OF THIS ARRANGEMENT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE CASH AT YOUR DOORSTEP IN YOUR COUNTRY.
THE MONEY IS IN ONE SECURITY-PROOF BOX WEIGHING 50KG.
YESTERDAY WE WENT TO FOUR COURIER COMPANIES TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS ON HOW TO SHIP THEM BY COURIER TO YOU.DHL, EMS, FEDEX, THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY MUST OPEN THE BOX FOR INSPECTION BY THE CUSTOMS BEFORE SHIPMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO AVOID BECAUSE THE BOX WAS PADDED WITH MACHINE. WE TOLD THE COURIER COMPANY THAT THE BOX CONTAINS PHOTOGRAPHIC AND FILM MATERIALS AND WHEN OPEN WILL LOOSE ITS EFICACY WE DID NOT DECLARE MONEY BECAUSE COURIER DOES NOT CARRY MONEY TODAY A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A DIPLOMAT DISCLOSED TO ME THAT THERE IS COURIER COMPANY THEY USE TO SEND DIPLOMATIC MATERIALS AND INFORMATION FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER.IT HAS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND CANNOT BE INSPECTED BY ANY CUSTOMS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE NAME OF THE COURIER SERVICE IS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY COURIER SERVICE (ISCS). I WILL MEET THEM AS SOON AS I HAVE YOUR GO AHEAD ORDER.
THE DIPLOMAT WILL HELP ME SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT YOU MUST COMPENSATE US WITH FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS US500, 000.00) AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR MONEY. TO THIS EFFECT, YOU WILL SEND US A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR (US500, 000.00) ALONG WITH YOUR ADDRESS FOR SENDING THE BOX BY COURIER. PLEASE MAINTAIN TOP MOST SECRECY AS IT MAY CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IF FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE USING THIS WAY TO HELP YOU DO NOT EVER TELL ANYBODY ABOUT THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY. I WANT TO HELP YOU BECAUSE SOMETHING IN ME IS TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE A HONEST PERSON. WHEN YOU CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION AND YOU SEND OUR USD500, 000.00 AS PROMISED,
WE WILL HELP TO SHIP THE FINAL PART OF YOUR MONEY TO YOU.
GOD BE WITH US AS WE WAIT FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR MUSTAFA BELLO

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