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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: bar.zaidiothman.file@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:20:57 -0700
Subject: From: Barrister Zaidi Othman (Urgent Investment Proposal)


How are you today,?



I am pleased to solicit your assistance in an investment opportunity, My
name is Barrister Zaidi Othman. I am arranging to bring into your country a
large sum of money which i planned to invest with your 100% assistance. I
need you to handle the investment or recommend an investor for me. I am a
foreigner and will likely travel back to my country as soon as formal
agreement is signed and the funds invested in a viable business of your
choice. Personally, I will prefer franchising. Secondly, I want to know what
is required to bring in a large amount of money to your country , I have a
reliable contact that can guarantee safety delivery to your country.



I want you to let me know the business you planned to invest the funds and
what i should be expecting for a period of 5 years. I am prepared to give
you
5% of the total sum before investment and 30% annually of the profit
realized
for 5 years. I will prepare a memorandum of understanding which we should
sign on my arrival. I want to let you know that my contacts can bring in any
amount of money to your country. Please get back to me as soon as possible
through my private email address: bar.zaidiothman.file@gmail.com I will call
you on the receipt of an email from you. Include your telephone number on
your reply.



Respectfully,
Email: bar.zaidiothman.file@gmail.com
Barrister Zaidi Othman

Anti-fraud resources: