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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: Mallam Otman Ahmed <otmanahmed@coolgoose.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 20:19:59 +0100
Subject: Assist Me Distribute Money to Charity



Dear Sir/Madam

As you read this, I don?t want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Mallam Otman Ahmed a merchant in Kuwait
City, Kuwait I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about
a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly
lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even
Myself) but my business, though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was
always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only
thing I cared for.

But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives
me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way
from how I have lived it.

I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and
extended family members as well as a few close friends.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so; I have decided to give
also to Charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds
I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations
in the Kuwait, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so
badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.


I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute
the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan;
they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them
anymore, as they seem not to be contempt with what I have left for them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
eighteen
million Dollars $12, 000, 000, 00 that I have with a Finance/Security Company
abroad. I will want you to help me collect/receive this deposit and dispatched
it to charity organizations.

Confidentiality as I will be awaiting your quick response. For your time and
honesty, I have set aside 10% for you.

Warm Regards
Mallam Otman Ahmed

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