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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: "usman_abubarkar" <usman_abubarkar@centrum.sk>
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:39:08 +0200
Subject: PLEASE URGENT REPLY


PLEASE URGENT REPLY
MR USMAN ABUBARKAR
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK(ADB)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO.
REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL, (usman_abubarkar5@yahoo.com)
Dear Friend
                                          (TOP SECRET)
I am MR USMAN ABUBARKAR the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of Africa Development Bank, (ADB) Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso in West Africa with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a
business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of
the transaction.
 
During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died
on 16th febuary 1998 in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his
accountwith this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody
either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.
 
Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself to enable
the whole plans and idea be Profitable and successful during the time
of execution. The said amount was U.S $9.2M (NINE million TWO hundred
United States dollars).
 
Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and
transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives
and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your
interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your self to
this great business opportunity.
 
In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in
this country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a
foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the
time of transfer because I work in this bank.
This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his request as it may be after due verification andclarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.
 
I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 45% of the total sum as gratification,  while 55% will be for me. Please, you have been adviced to keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you.
 
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us
to invest in.
 
All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when I hear from you
I look forward to receive your mail
Yours faithfully.
MR USMAN ABUBARKAR



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