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: HABEEB USMAN <h_usm2011@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 03:14:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: THE DESK OF:MR.HABEEB USMAN/RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.


THE DESK OF:MR.HABEEB USMAN/RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.
BANK OF AFRICA(B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO,
WEST AFRICA.
 
Dear Friend,
 
(PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL).
 
I am Mr.HABEEB USMAN.. the Director in charge of Auditing section Bank Of Africa(.B.O.A)Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso in West Africa. Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise. AS IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW, I GOT YOUR IMPRESSIVE INFORMATION THROUGH THE INTERNET SEARCH HERE IN OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO. I have decided to contact you on a project that will be very beneficial to both of us. During our auditing in this Bank,I came across some amount of money belonging to a deceased foreigner Mr.Sheu Yuan-dong who died with his wife and their only daughter on February 16,1998 in a plane crash.
 
The fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody from his relation before my discovery to this development. He was the Governor of Taiwan Central(Reserve)Bank. The said amount is U.S $14,000,000(FOURTEEN MILLION UNITED STATE OF AMERICA DOLLAR). I want you to know that I never master minded the death of the deceased fellow. Their death occured Naturally.
 
FOR YOUR INFORMATION BEEN YOU NOT A TAIWANESE WILL NOT POSE ANY PROBLEM FOR THE SUCESSFUL TRANSFER ON THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. All the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the Bonafide next of kin to the deceased has been put in place and directives will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity. In this country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign account. This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin to the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his request.
 
Our Banking law stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Ten years, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin. I dont want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill. Be assured this transaction is 100% risk free.
 
On conclusion of this Project, you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as gratification,while 60% will be for me.Please you have been adviced to keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I will fly down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment will be discussed. On your acceptance to be my partner, please email for a brief discussion before we proceed. Please keep this proposal secret, even if you dont want to assist me. I look forward to receive your urgent reply.
 
NOTE/ SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS IF YOU ARE REALLY WILLING TO ASSIST ME,SO I WILL APPLY TO THE BANK OF AFRICA ON YOUR BEHALF....
 
1.YOUR NAME..............
2.BANK NAME..............
3.BANK ACCOUNT N°..........
4.AGE....................
5.OCCUPATION.............
6.COUNTRY................
7.MOBILE N°..............
8.1 SCANNED PASSPORT.....
I AM WAITING TO READ FROM YOU
 
Yours faithfully,
Mr.HABEEB USMAN
 
 

 

Anti-fraud resources: