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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: "Mr. Usman Bala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abel.revpeter@yahoo.it>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 15:54:04 +0100
Subject: Scam Compensation Payment OF $3.5 Million In Your Favor

FROM MR USMAN BALA
ECO FINANCIAL HOUSE/UNITED NATIONS 2012
EMAIL;revpeter_abel@yahoo.com
 
Attn: Dear Friend.
 
The president of Nigeria Dr Good luck Ebele Jonathan, the secretary of the United Nations in-conjunction with the Governor Central Bank of Nigeria Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has concluded a meeting held that 104 of scam victims should be paid the compensation fee of $3.5 million each and you are hereby approved for this payment.
 
 
According to the number of applicants at hand, 84 beneficiaries have been paid. Half of the victims are from the United States; while 16 left to be paid the said amount. Some of these syndicates were arrested in Lagos Nigeria. You are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to any body for any reason as, the US secret service and EFCC are already on trace of the remaining criminals that have tarnished the good image of our dear country [NIGERIA} and Africa at large.
 
 
The payments are to be paid by Federal Reserve Account Unit, corresponding paying bank under funding assistance through Union Bank Nigeria Plc
 
The names of the Top Boss and officials whose names are been always used in this evil acts are as follows
 
1. Prof Charles Soludo
2. Malam Nuhu Ribadu
3. Hon Ngozi Okonji Iwuala
4. Shamsuddeen Us man
5. Ahmed Usman
6. Dr Tunde Lemo
7. Dr Lamido Sanusi
8. Sen. David Mark
9. Dr Olushegun Aganga
10 Mrs. Farida Waziri
11 Robin Renee Sanders
 
You are to receive your compensations payment via any of the below listed options:
 
(1) THROUGH DIPLOMATIC HOME CASH DELIVERY.
(2) THROUGH ATM SWIFT MASTER PAYMENT.
 
Let us know the option you choose to be paid, we shall give you modalities as soon as we hear from you. All further correspondence should be forwarded to the contact person Rev Peter Abel on the above email address. Do send us the following informations Such as YOUR FULL NAME, CONTACT ADDRESS AND YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER for easy communication.
 
We use this medium on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to apologize for the inconveniences this might have caused you in the past.
I shall feed you with further modalities as soon as I hear from you.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Usman Bala
Secretary to Rev Peter Abel

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