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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: "uchennaobi" <uchennaobi@wooow.it>
Reply-To: uchennaobi2006@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:55:44 +0100
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed''

DEAR FRIEND,

Permit me to introduce myself, my name is Mr.Uchenna Obi I
work with Union Bank of Nigeria Limited as (Assistant
Auditor),in the discharge of my duty, I stumbled on this
domiciliary account that has remained dormant for three
years now with fourty two million United States
dollars(US$42m) in it.

I contacted my director and we sent out staff for enquiries
and discovered that the account holder died in an accident.
I am writing you so that we can work together to remit the
money to you as the next of kin because this money belongs
to a foreigner and has to be claimed by a foreigner.

I guarantee this transaction under legitimate arrangements
that will not breach the law by both parties; it is simple
process, which will take a short while to process. If I hear
from you, I will tell you all you need to know about the
money. In your reply include your private telephone fax full
name contact address and your banking information where you
wish the money will be transferred.
N.B all correspondence which be directed to this mail
address:uchennaobi2006@yahoo.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Uchenna Obi.

Anti-fraud resources: