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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: zhara musi <zharamusi01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:48:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From:Mrs zhara musi and son mike,


From:Mrs zhara musi and son mike,
Abidjan,Cote D'Ivoire.
West Africa.
Tel: +225.03670040
 
My Dear Gordon
 
I am Mrs.zhara musi from Cote D`ivoire (Ivory Coast). I am a widow being that I lost my husband some year's ago. My husband,late Dr. musi  Diada, was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his death . He was assasinated in september (2003) by the rebels following a political uprising.
 
Before his death, he had a foreign account here in Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) up to the tune of $8m which he told the bank was for the importation of  cocoa processing machine.However,due to my bad health situation occassioned by cancer, i wish you to secure this fund as the beneficiary so that you will invest it in a good business venture for the benefit and education of my son,mike, who will be coming to stay under your kind custody immediately after the fund transfer as my health is failing me.
 
I wish you to invest any worthy business which you deemed fit and proper and manage same for mike until he is matured to take over. I wish you to distribute and use the fund as follows: 80% for the business which you will manage on behalf of my son, 15% for your cordial assistance and inconveniences while the remaining 5% is for any expenses which may be incurred in the course of this transaction.
 
I look forward to receiving the under-listed information from you so that i will submit same to the bank to enable them commence action on the fund transfer as soon as possible.
 
Your full name (s ) :
Your contact Phone number:
Your Address:.
Your Age:
Occupation:
 
I hope to hear from you soonest.
 
Please note that i would like this transaction to be private and confidential between us alone.
I await your quick reply.
 
Thanks and best regards.



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