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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: "MRS. NENDI USMAN ESTHER" <mrs_nendi@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 08:54:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:



MRS.ESTHER NENDI USMAN .
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE,
FEDERAL REBUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:

THIS IS TO OFFICIALY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FUFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE PAYMENT. SECONDLY WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE NONE OFFICIALS IN THE BANK ALL YOUR ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU.

WE WISH TO ADVICE YOU THAT SUCH AN ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THIS HAVE TO STOP IF YOU WISHES TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SINCE WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION BY THE PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR` ADUA (GCFR) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
FAX NUMBER:
AGE:
SEX:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
NATIONALITY:
BANK NAME:
BANK ADDRESS:
BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER:
ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(s). THIS IS TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT. EMAIL BACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DIRECTION IN THIS REGARDS AND ALSO UPDATE ME ON ANY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED OFFICE.

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING,

MRS.ESTHER NENDI USMAN
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
FEDERAL REBUBLIC OF NIGERIA.


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