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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: "Mr Musa Ahmed" <mrmusaahmed2@klikni.cz>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 09:01:12 +0000
Subject: Hello!


* FROM:Mr Musa ahmed. * *AUDITING / ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR
BANK OF AFRICA(BOA)
BURKINA-FASO WEST AFRICA.
*

*My dear I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum
of money from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you
that all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you
due to the urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION! I discovered an abandant sum of $10.2M(ten Million Two Hundred
thousand United states Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our
foreign customers MR ANDREAS SCHRANNER who died along with his entire family
web site :(**http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>
*). Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward
to lay claims to this money as the heir. I cannot release the fund from his
account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased
as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next
of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by
me for the funds $10.2M(ten Million Two Hundred thousand United states
Dollars) to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin. It
may interest you to note that I have secured from the probate an order of
madamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of my mutual
business endeavour by
furnishing me with the following;
1. Your Full Names and Address.
2. Direct Telephone and Fax numbers.

These requirements will enable me file a letter of claim to the appropriate
departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can
be made. I shall be compensating you with $4.9 Million Dollars on final
conclusion of this project, while the rest $5.3Million shall be for me.

Your share stays with you while the rest shall be for me for investment
purposes in your country. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take
undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent
email.

Regards,
Mr. Musa ahmed.*

*
*

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