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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: "idrissa arouna" <idrissa_arouna05@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:00:43 +0000
Subject: IS URGENT PLEASE

FROM DESK OF MR IDRISSA AROUNA.
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
BANK OF AFRICA(BOA)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO.

I AM IDRISSA AROUNA THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING
SECTION OF BANK OF AFRICA, (BOA) OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO COULD YOU PLEASE
CONSIDER TO HELP ME TO RELOCATE THIS SUM OF TEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS(US$10.5m) 10.5 MILLION DOLLARS WAS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK BY
Mr Joan Smith AN AMERICA CITIZEN WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 2000.

WE HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO COME FORWARD FOR CLAIMS BUT
COULD NOT SUCCEED.WE DISCORVERED THAT THE LATE AMERICAN DIED ALONG SIDE
WITH HES WIFE AND CHILDREN WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS NEXT OF KIN.
ON SMOOTH CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 40% OF THE
TOTAL SUM AS GRATIFICATION, WHILE 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO TAKE CARE OF
EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFER AND ALSO TELEPHONE
BILLS, WHILE 55% WILL BE FOR ME. PLEASE, YOU HAVE BEEN ADVICED TO KEEP "TOP
SECRET.

CLICKHERE(http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/).

I WILL GIVE YOU ALL VITAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AMERICAN AND THE
10.5MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR CUSTODY SO THAT YOU WILL CONTACT OUR BANK
FOR THEM TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU.
YOU CAN COME HERE IN PERSON OR YOU CAN REQUEST THE BANK TO SHIP THE
FUNDS TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY DIPLOMATICALY.
I AM THE DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION,I WILL PLAY A
ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 10.5 MILLION DOLLARS IS RELEASED TO YOU. AS SOON
AS I RECIEVE YOUR REPLY,I WILL GIVE YOU A DRAFT APPLICATION WHICH YOU WILL
FORWARD TO OUR BANK.

HERE IS MY PRIVATE EMAIL(idrissa_arouna01@yahoo.com)

REPLY AND LET ME KNOW YOUR FULL NAME,
AGE,ADDRESS,OCCUPATION,
AND FAX NUMBERS IF AVALIABLE.
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.

MR.IDRISSA AROUNA.

_________________________________________________________________
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