joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Turai Hajia Yar'adua" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mamooudhassan200@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:37:44 -0700
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST ME MY DEAR.

MRS.HAJIA TURAI YAR'ADUA
PRESIDENTIAL VILLA
ASO ROCK - NIGERIA.
 
 
Hello my dear, Compliments of the season and more blessings.
 
I am First Lady Mrs.Hajia Turai Yar'Adua, wife of the late Mr.Umaru Musa Yar'Adua,the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who died on the 5th of May 2010 of heart problems. I contacted you because of my need to deal with a person of your calibre who my family and I have had no previous personal Relationship but following your profile,i understand that you will be of a good help.
 
Since the death of my husband,former Nigeria president my family had been subjected to all sorts of harrassment and intimidation with lots of negative reports emanating from the government and the press about my husband. The present administration of Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is now Nigeria president has also ensured that our bank accounts are frozen and all assests siezed and am also not allowed to go away from presidential Villa ASO ROCK ABUJA. http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/?p=40610
 
It is in view of this that I seek your co-operation and assistance in the transfer of the sum of Fifty Seven Million U.S Dollars only (US$57 million Only)being the very last of my family fund in my possession and control.Please note that this is the only familly hope now,the available US$57 million cash, which is carefully packaged and deposited with a security finance company in Abroad.
 
My purpose of contacting you is for you to assist me and receive  the funds,we will be able to invest the funds under your advise and counselling till such a time when I will be free from my present predicament.I will accept to share the fund according to our mutual agreement if you indicate your willingness to assist me over this project.PLEASE VISIT THESE WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MY HUSBAND DEATH: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8663824.stm
 
Please ensure to keep this proposal very secret and confidential for obvious reasons and send to my lawyer your private telephone and fax numbers for easy and confidential communication. I await your kind response to my son's private email address  (mamooudhassan200@gmail.com)
 
Thank you and God bless.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mrs.Hajia Turai Yar'Adua

Anti-fraud resources: