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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: Aharona Mahla <mahlaa0@libero.it>
Reply-To: mahla.aharona@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:36:45 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Good day to you

Good day,

Hello and how are you? I'd really like to have a good friendship with you, and
I have a special reason why I decided to contact you. I decided to contact you
due to the urgency of my situation here, I am Ms. Aharona Mahla 26 years old
girl from Sudan, my late father Dr.Coniffe Mahla, who died in the attack of the
rebels in my country Sudan.

I am compelled to contact you because of the maltreatment I am receiving from
my stepmother. She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and
properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile,
I wanted to escape to Europe, but she hide my international passport and other
valuable travel documents. Fortunately she could not found where I kept my
fathers File which contains important documents.

So I decided to run to the refugee here where I am presently seeking asylum
under the High Commission for Refugees here in Dakar, Republic of Senegal. I
want to contact you personally for a long term relationship and investment
assistance in your country. My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of U.
S. $6.100,000.00 in a security and finance firm with my name as the next of
kin. However I will submit the necessary documents on confirmation of your
acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund. As an
investment to help me, I would like to finish my studies because I was in my
1st year in college, when the crisis started.

It is my intention to compensate you with 15% of the total money for your
services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is why i decided
to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address
only for confidential. As soon as i receive your positive response showing your
interest I will put things into action immediately. In light of the above, we
see an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this
transaction sincerely.

Awaiting your urgent and positive response. Please keep this only to your car
please do not reveal it until I come over, once the funds have been
transferred. looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Aharona.

Anti-fraud resources: