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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: "Waziri Ahmed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <waziariahmed@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:52:07 +0100
Subject: Good day

Good day

A lot of people believe that emails like this turn out to be scam, even myself always delete mails like this, but i have no other means to reach you apart from writing you an email.

I am Waziri Ahmed and i used to work with a security firm in Libya. Two years ago a woman came to our office then and told me she wants to deposit a package with us and she wanted to remain anonymous, but she told only me in secret that the package contains cash of about $12 million dollars.

Since then the secret was kept to myself alone and nobody knows even until our company moved out of Libya during the war. I now work with a freight company. But, my former company has sent several notifications to me, that i should tell the owner of the package to come forward and remove the package because they are closing up and relocating to Saudi Arabia. I have looked for her even all the phone and email details she gave me are no more working. Just 3 days ago i got the news that she is dead, long ago that she died when the NATO forces bombed Gaddafi house then. I even just found out that she was a cousin to Gaddafi.

well, why I am writing this email is because i want the both of us to handle this transaction and we share the funds in the package equally. I will present you as the owner of the package i have the release codes once you tell them the code and other information's, the package will be released and sent to where ever you want them to send it. they will only confirm from me before they release and if i say yes we are rich. Bear in mind that it is not a must that you must appear in person, you do not need to be there, just calls and emails with the right codes and full information's.

They cannot release it to me because they know that it is not mine, but they fully know as well that I am the only person on earth that knows the owner and the correct release code. I believe this a great opportunity for me, because nobody will ever come for the package.

Do not have any fear i prefer to do this business with somebody i don't even know very well because some times your own families and friends will be the once to fail and disappoint you. If you are ready to keep the secret and work with me then i will tell you other things and we move ahead, I promise just 3 days we will receive the package where ever you choose. But do not fail and disappoint me when you receive the package. I will meet with you in person for us to do the sharing. Please if you will work with me and keep the secret please reply me so we can talk more on these issue and act fast, but if you are not interested please delete these email so nobody else can read it.

I wait to hear from you.

Waziri Ahmed.
waziariahmed@voila.fr

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