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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: "Barrister Musa Ibrahim" <mccmusaibrahim9@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: musa4ibrahim0@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:18:48 -0000
Subject: THIS IS CONFIDENTIAL



--
VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT
Dear Friend,

Am sorry for bumping into your privacy, let me start by introducing myself,
I am BARRISTER MUSA IBRAHIM (SAN) .I got your e-mail from my private search
of reputable people, I am an attorney and I have a client who is interested
in investing some good money in your country.

My client is a very important and prominent person who has mandated me to
contact you for a very important business transaction. My client is by name
Mrs. Maryam Abacha and she is the wife of a Late Military head of state in
my country. Her husband Late General Sanni Abacha made a lot of money
through Oil proceeds during his tenure in office. In fact it was discovered
after his death that he was worth well over $4.5 billion in United State
Dollars and some of this money were retrieving after he died while some was
recovered from officials that served under him during his reign as Military
Head of State. The truth of this case is that my client despite the problem
she is going through now, she still has a lot of money in her possession,
which she intends to invest outside our country.

What my client need from you now is reliable account where she can transfer
some money but mind you, all the money in her possessions cannot leave at
once because she need to build confidence and trust. In someone who would
not expose her plan to remit and possibly invest in your company, so she has
agreed that I should make arrangements for the transfer of $69.5 million
United States dollars and you are free to negotiate your mode of
compensation even as she intends to invest the money in your country.
Please, do not hesitate to indicate your view of this request by contacting
me immediately you receive this e-mail so that the necessary arrangements
can be made for the money to leave immediately.

You are required to provide the following information below:
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE /MOBILE AND OFFICE TELEPHONE. NUMBERS.
4. PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION (A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE, DRIVERS LICENCE OR
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT)
5. AGE:
6. OCCUPATION:

Due to the present situation of my client, I would be happy if this request
can be kept secret and strictly confidential. I would also like to note that
there is no risk involved at all because I would provide all the legal
tenders binding it all.
Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks and Best regards,
Barrister Musa Ibrahim (SAN)




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