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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: "mercy udo" <mercyudo@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: cbntraining_computers2006@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:37:01 -0500
Subject: Miss Mercy Udo.

ATTENTION: The Beneficiary,

Dear sir.

I am Miss Mercy Udo a computer scientist with central bank of Nigeria. I am
29 years old, just started work with C.B.N. I came across your file which is
marked X and your released disk painted RED I took time to study it and
found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and certificate but the fund
has not been release to you. The most annoying thing is that they cannot
tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to
you, instead they let you spend money unnecessarily.

I do not intend to work here all the days of my life, I can release this
fund to you if you can certify me of my security, And how I can run away
from this Nigeria, if I do this, because if I don't I will be seriously in
trouble My life will be in danger.

Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, you may not understand it
because you are not a Nigerian. The only thing I will need to release this
fund is a special HARD DISK we call it HB2/LT. I will buy two of it, recopy
your information, destroy the previous one, and punch the computer to
reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours. I will clean up the tracer and
destroy your file, after which I will run away from Nigeria to meet with
you. If you are interested, do get in touch with me immediately on my
E-MAIL;cbntraining_computers2006@yahoo.com

You should send to me your convenient tell/fax numbers for easy
communications and also re confirm your details, so that there won't be any
mistake.

Regards,

Miss Mercy Udo.

Computer Scientist.

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