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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: "FROM MRS.MARIAM ABACHA" <a997766834a@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrs_m_abacha1962@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 09:50:04 -0600
Subject: FROM MRS.MARIAM ABACHA



DEAR FRIEND, GREETINGS AND COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON. PLEASE GIVE ATTENTION TO THIS MAIL AS I HOPE ON YOU,LET ME FIRST INTRODUCED MYSELF CLEARLY TO YOU . I AM(MRS) MARIAM ABACHA THE WIFE OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST MILITARY RESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA WHO DIED ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1998.I GOT YOUR ADDRESS WHILE GOING THROUGH THE INTERNET SEARCHING FOR A RELIABLE BUSINESS PARTNER, I THINK I WAS LED BUT NOT ERRONIOURSELY BUT TO MAKE A SINCERE PREPOSITION TO YOU. MY MAJOR REASON FOR WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU IS THAT MY HUSBAND LEFT A LOT OF PROPERTIES AND HUGE AMOUNT OF CASH, MONEY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH.THE PRESENT GOVERMENT OF THE COUNTRY THAT SUCCEEDED MY HUSBAND IS AVOURABLE TO OUR FAMILY AND INDEED HAS SHOWN THIS,BY THE COFISTICATION OF MANY OF OUR LANDED PROPERTIES AND LAREGAMOUNT OF MONEY BELONGINGS.FORTUNATELY,WE HAVE DISCOVERED MY LATE HUSBAND WILL.THIS WILL STATES THAT THE SUM OF US$25.5 MILLION HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY VAULT IN OVERSEAS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SECURITY VAULT AND IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE US$25.5 MILLION IS STILL INTACT AND THAT WE ARE ABSOLITELY FREE TO COLLECT THE BOX CONTANING THE MONEY ANY TIME WE WANT.DUE TO THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND AND THE ARREST OF MY ELDEST SURVIVING SON (MOHAMMED ABACHA)THE HANDICAP.AT THIS MOMENT IS THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF OUR COUNTRY WILL CONFISCATE THIS MONEY IF WE MAKE USE OF IT IN THIS COUNTRY.WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF A FOREIGNER WHO WILL HELP TO INVEST THIS MONEY OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY.THIS IS WHY I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO ASSIST US. NOTE I WILL COMPASATE YOU WITH 15%OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AND THE REST TO BERELEASED TO ME. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GIVING THIS ASSISTANCE, PLS INDICATE YOUR INTERST THROUGH MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE.I WILL THEN GIVE YOU THE ENTIRE MODALITIES FOR THE BUSINESS ON RECIEPT OF YOUR FAX MESSAGE. IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDS TO BE EXPEDITED BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SOME WORKING DAYS FOR NEGOTIATION. PLEASE KEEP THIS BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL.AND DO GET BACK TO ME VIA MY CONFIDENTIAL MAIL BOX BELOW: BEST REGARDS,MRS.MARIAM ABACHA
_________________________________________________________________
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