joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "mariam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mrs_mariamabacha10001@yahoo.com.sg (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "=?iso-8859-1?q?Mrs.=20Mariam=20Abacha?=" <mrs_mariamabacha10001@yahoo.com.sg>
Reply-To: mrs_abacha1@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 01:29:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Almighty Allah Bless You


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrs_mariamabacha10001@yahoo.com.sg

Almighty Allah Bless You

- My Dear Friend,May Almighty Allah be with you, The most beneficent and merciful. I am Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigerian Head of state, General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on active service for our Country. I am contacting you with the hope that you will be of great assistance to me, I currently have within my reach the sum of 60 million U.S dollars ($60m) cash which l intend to use for investment purposes outside Nigeria. This money came as a result of a payback contract deal between my husband and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel Plant. The Russian partners returned my husband’s share being the above sum after his death. Presently, the new Civilian Government has intensified their probe into my husband’s financial resources, which has led to the freezing of all our accounts, local and foreign and revoking of all our business licenses. In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw this money from one of our finance houses before it was closed down. I have deposited the money in a Security Company with the help of very loyal officials of my late husband. Due to the current situation in the country and government attitude to my family, I cannot make use of this money within, thus I seek your help in clearing this funds from the security company. Bearing in mind that you may assist me, l have decided to part with 10% of the total sum. Please kindly reply this mail and endeavor to include your personal telephone and fax numbers. You can view this website for confirmation: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_741000/741506.stm Your URGENT response will be highly appreciated. Regards, Mrs. Mariam Abacha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam