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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: "DR. \(MRS\) MARIAM ABACHA" <selcom010@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: "DR. \(MRS\) MARIAM ABACHA" <plscontacton01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:01:44 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED!!!





COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY!!, 

I AM DR. (MRS) MARIAM ABACHA THE WIFE OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST MILITARY PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA WHO DIED ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1998. I GOT YOUR ADDRESS WHILE GOING THROUGH MY HUSBANDS CLOSET. I THEREFORE, DECIDE TO CONTACT YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU MUST HAVE BEEN MY LATE HUSBANDS FRIEND.

MY MAJOR REASON FOR WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU IS THAT MY HUSBAND LEFT A LOT OF PROPERTIES AND HUGE AMOUNT OF CASH MONEY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH.

THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY THAT SUCCEEDED MY HUSBAND IS UNFAVORABLE TO OUR FAMILY AND INDEED HAS SHOWN THIS BY THE CONFISCATION OF MANY OF OUR LANDED PROPERTIES AND LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BELONGINGS.

FORTUNATELY WE HAVE DISCOVERED MY LATE HUSBAND WILL. THIS WILL STATES THAT THE SUM OF US$150MILLION HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY VAULT ABROAD FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SECURITY VAULT AND IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT HE BOXES CONTAINING THE  US$150 MILLION  ARE  STILL INTACT AND THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FREE TO COLLECT THE BOXES CONTAINING THE MONEY ANY TIME WE WANT.

DUE TO THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND AND THE ARREST OF MY ELDEST SURVIVING SON (MOHAMMED ABACHA) THE HANDICAP AT THIS MOMENT IS THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF OUR COUNTRY WILL CONFISCATE THIS MONEY IF WE MAKE USE OF IT IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF A FOREIGNER WHO WILL HELP TO INVEST THIS MONEY OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY. THIS IS WHY I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO ASSIST US.

NOTE I WILL PAY YOU 20% OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AND THE REST TO BE RELEASED TO ME. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GIVING THIS ASSISTANCE, PLS INDICATE YOUR INTEREST THROUGH MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE.

I WILL THEN GIVE YOU THE ENTIRE MODALITIES FOR THE BUSINESS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR FAX MESSAGE.

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDS TO BE EXPEDITED BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SOME WORKING DAYS FOR NEGOTIATION. PLEASE KEEP THIS BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL.

BEST REGARDS,

DR. (MRS) MARIAM ABACHA

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