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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: Mariam Hisman <mmmhis1986@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mariamhis1986@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:35:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM MISS MARIAM HISMAN



FROM MISS MARIAM HISMAN
COTE D'IVOIRE ABIDJAN=20
WEST AFRICA.

DEAR=A0 ,=20
=A0
PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WI=
TH YOU.
=A0
I AM MISS MARIAM HISMAN, THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF LATE ALHAJI WAZIRI HISMAN. MY=
FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CA=
PITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCI=
ATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS.
=A0
WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1988, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL =
BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER AND ALSO AS THE ONLY CHILD=A0=A0BEFORE DE=
ATH TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME.
=A0
BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2006 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE =
IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A =
SUM OF=A012.3M=A0USA DOLLAS=A0(TWELVE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR=
S) IN A=A0MATERLLIC TRUNK BOX=A0DEPOSITED IN A=A0SECURITY COMPANY=A0HERE IN=
ABIDJAN. HE USED MY NAME AS NEXT OF KIN AND NOT THE BENEFICIARY DUE TO OUR=
POLITICAL STATUS AND THE NATURE OF DEPOSIT I CAN NOT SERVE AS THE BENEFICI=
ARY,THE BENEFICIARY MUST BE MY FATHER'S BUSINESS PARTNER ABROAD OR A FAMILY=
FRIEND.=20
=A0
HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POIS=
ONED BY HIS BUSINESS=A0 ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNE=
R IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR=
INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT).=A0I AM HONOURABLY SE=
EKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

1)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM IS STILL YOUNG GIRL OF=
=A021 YEARS.
2). You honestly take me as your family?
3). Can I completely trust you?
4). What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you af=
ter the money is in your country?

5).TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR
COUNTRY AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.
MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FO=
R YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR COUN=
TRY OVERSEAS.FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME=
AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHOUT PROBLEMS.INT=
EREST TO ASSIST ME. ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
=A0
THANKS AND=A0 BEST REGRADS.
=A0
MISS MARIAM HISMAN=0A=0A=0A

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