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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: "YUSUF AHMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yusufahmed.gl@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:47:05 +0800
Subject: PLEASE, READ THIS LETTER (IMPORTANT!)

With Due Respect,
 
Dear Friend,
 
I am Barrister Yusuf Ahmed, a legal practitioner, I am the personal attorney to Eng. J. Tasnim, a National Of your country, who used to work with Togo shell Company here in Lome Togo. He used to be my client. On the 25th of December 2006, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Togo to ghana Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$28.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited.
 
The said Finance firm has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next (21) Twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives since last years uptill now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
 
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio you will take 50% and 40% will go for me 5% is for expensence the remmaining 5% will be for less previlages for justifying my concence, modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim.
 
All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Get back to me via this my private email address for easy communication and also for privacy - ( yusuf.ahmed_chambers@hotmail.com ) if you are interested in working out this mutual benefit with me and receive this money into your account over there.
 
N.B: Please if you are sending me mail use your private email address and send it directely to my own private email address follow my instruction as i told you in your mail you will send to me for privacy because you are the first and the only person i have contacted in this transaction to avoid counter claim thanks. Make sure you get back to me directely from your private email address to my private email please for easy communication is very simple try to follow my instruction if you can handle this with me God bless you.
 
My questions are:-
1.PLEASE CAN YOU CHAMPION THIS TRANSACTION??...........................
2.CAN I GIVE YOU TRUST?..................................
3.DO YOU AGREE WITH MY PERCENTAGE SHARE INDICATED HERE IN MY LETTER TO YOU?..................................
4.HOPE YOU WILL NOT EAT MY SHARE WHEN THIS FUND GET INTO YOUR ACCOUNT?
YES.....................NO.............
 
So I request that you provide me with this information below for it to enable me submit an application letter to the paying bank here on your behalf for the transfer of the fund and also to increase my confidence on you.
 
Your full name.............................
Your Age......................................
Your marital status..........................
Your occupation............................
Your residence address........................
Your telephone number..............................
 
I will appreciate your swift response or call so that we can commence this project officially. E-mail: yusuf.ahmed_chambers@hotmail.com
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Best Regards,
 
Yusuf Ahmed Esq.
Lome Togo.

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