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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: "Andrew" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewibrahim@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:18:51 -0700
Subject: PLEASE READ ME

DEAR ATTENTION BENEFICIARY/PARTNER.
 
I AM MR. ANDREW IBRAHIM, THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE WIFE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA, MUSA YAR'DUA WHO DIED LAST MONTH AFTER SOME MONTHS OF ILLNESS. WHILE THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS SERIOUSLY ILL, HE WAS TAKEN TO SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HIS EXACT HEALTH CONDITION WAS BROKEN TO THE FAMILY THAT HE WILL NOT MAKE IT AGAIN. ON THAT NOTE, HE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO NIGERIA TO SPEND THE REMAINING DAYS OF HIS LIFE BEFORE HIS DEATH. THE WIFE AS THE FIRST LADY THEN, USED HER HUSBAND POSITION TO REMOVE A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL VAULT.
AFTER HIS DEATH AND BURIAL, THE WIFE CONTACTED ME THAT SHE HAS A TOTAL SUM OF $2OM CASH WHICH SHE DEPOSITED WITH A 
SECURITY COMPANY AND THAT I SHOULD HELP HER SOLICIT FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUSTED PERSON WHO CAN HELP THE FAMILY
TO KEEP THE CASH PENDING HER ARRIVAL FOR SHARING AND INVESTING. SHE SAID THAT SHE DOES NOT WANT TO ENTRUST THIS FUND
INTO THE HANDS OF SOMEBODY THAT IS KNOWN TO THE FAMILY SO AS TO AVOID GREED AND ELUDE TRACE OF ANY  KIND.
 
PLEASE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS RISK FREE. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR. I AM STILL 
WORKING IN THE PRESIDENCY AND I WILL PROTECT YOU AT ALL LEVELS. IF YOU CAN ACCEPT TO KEEP THIS FUND UNDER YOUR 
CUSTODY, I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOU AS A 
DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE. UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT, THE LUGGAGE WILL NOT BE INSPECTED HENCE IT WILL HAVE A DIPLOMATIC TAG 
WHICH WILL PROTECT IT FROM INSPECTION BY ANY AUTHORITY UNTILL IT GETS TO YOU. THE DIPLOMAT WHO WILL DELIVER THE CASH TO YOU DOES NOT AND WILL NOT KNOW THE CONTENT OF THE CONSIGNMENT.
 
SEND ME YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS, DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBERS WHICH THE DIPLOMAT WILL USE TO REACH YOU ON HIS ARRIVAL IN YOUR COUNTRY.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ON THIS CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE NUMBER +234-1-739-3064 AND 
ASK ANY QUESTION YOU MAY WISH TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATIONS OR THROUGH EMAIL andrewibrahim123@gmail.com
 
 
REGARDS,
ANDREW IBRAHIM.


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