joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: mark smith <marks_mith2007@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: j_abuah2@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:21:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENTLY


MR.JUDE ABUAH
LAGOS-NIGERIA WEST AFRICA

DEAR FRIEND,
I AM A DIRECTOR OF THE CONTRACT SECTION OF THE NIGERIAN
TRANSPORT AND AVIATION HEADQUARTERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.I WRITE BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE.
BY VIRTUE OF MY POSITION IN THE MINISTRY, MYSELF AND SOME
OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE BENEFICIARIES OF FUNDS IN THE SUM OF
$25,000,000.00(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
THIS AMOUNT IS PRESENTLY AWAITING OFFSHORE REMITTANCE INTO
FOREIGN ACCOUNT SINCE IT COULD NOT BE PAID HERE DUE TO
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON CIVIL SERVANTS REGARDING OWNERSHIP OF FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
THIS AMOUNT IN QUESTION ($25,000,000.00) RESULTED FROM OVER
INVOICED BILLS FROM CONTRACT EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM IN
MY MINISTRY TO THE TUNE OF $59,000,000.00 (FIFTY NINE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR HAS RECEIVED THE $34,000,000.00(THIRTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) DUE TO HIM, WHILE $25,000,000.00(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) OVER INVOICED SURPLUS IS NOW FLOATING IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT.
IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKDROP THAT I SEEK YOUR COOPERATION IN
ACCOMODATING THIS FUND IN YOUR CUSTODY.FOR YOUR PART IN
HELPING US, MY COLLEAGUES AND I PROPOSE 20% OF THE TOTAL
SUM TO YOU, 70% FOR OURSELVES AND 10% FOR MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES ON BOTH SIDES LIKE TELEPHONE AND FAX BILLS.
I ASSURE YOU THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR HOME WORK VERY WELL IN OTHER TO MAKE THIS DEAL 100% RISK FREE. IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN THIS SAFE DEAL, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ONCE
THROUGH E-MAIL.

THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED UNDER FIVE
WORKING DAYS WITH YOUR COOPERATION AS ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF THE TRANSFERENCE HAS BEEN CONCLUDED, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.JUDE ABUAH

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources: