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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ibrahim Mustapha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnmarch@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:45:56 -0700
Subject: PROPOSAL

FROM THE DESK OF
MR. IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA.
EMAIL: kuhn_gerg11@cantv.net My Tel: +27-73-52-69-933. Fax: +27-866-088-033
 
My name is Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha. I am a banker with the ABSA Bank of South Africa.
I am still working with the Bank, but am about to retire from active Bank service to start a new life but I am sceptical to reveal this particular secret to a stranger .You must assure me that everything will be handled confidentially because we are not going to suffer again in life.
It has been 10 years now that most of the greedy African Politicians used our bank to launder money to overseas through the help of their Political advisers. Most of the funds which they transferred out of the shores of Africa were gold and oil money that was supposed to have been used to develop the continent. Their Political advisers always inflated the amounts before transfer to foreign accounts so I also used the opportunity to divert part of the money hence I am aware that there is no official trace of how much was transferred as all the accounts used for such transfers were being closed after transfer. I acted as the Bank Officer to most of the politicians and when I discovered that they were using me to succeed in their greedy act; I also cleaned some of their banking records from the Bank files and no one cared to ask me because the money was too much for them to control. They laundered over $150m dollars, during t! ! he process .As I am sending this
 
There is no one coming to ask you about the funds because I secured everything. I only want you to assist me by providing available bank account where the funds can be transferred. You are not to face any difficulties or legal implications as I am going to handle the transfer personally. If you are capable of receiving the funds, do let me know by replying me immediately to enable me give you detailed information on what to do.
 
For me, I have not stolen the money from anyone because the other people that took the whole money did not face any problems. This is my chance also to grab my own but you must keep the details of the funds secret to avoid leakages as no one in the bank knows about the funds.
 
Please supply me the following:
 
Your current contact address and Telephone Numbers.
Whether you will be able to come down to my country to meet me before the commencement of the transfer.
 
I shall intimate you on what to do when I get your confirmation and acceptance.
If you are capable of being my trusted associate, do declare your consent to me.
 
Waiting for your urgent response.
Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha

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