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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: "MARIAM ABACHA" <mariam_andfamily@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:39:18 -0800
Subject: As-salamu alaykum


My Dear Friend,

I am Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigerian Head
of state, General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June
1998 while still on active service for our Country. I am
contacting you with the hope that you will be of great
assistance to me, I currently have within my reach the sum
of 24 million U.S dollars cash which I intend to use for
investment purposes outside Nigeria.
This money came as a result of a payback contract deal
between my husband and a Russian firm inour country's
multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel plant. The Russian
partners returned my husbands share being the above sum
after his death. Presently, the new civilian Government has
intensified their probe into my husbands financial resources
which has led to the freezing of all our accounts, local and
foreign, the revoking of all our business licences and the
arrest of my First son. In view of this I acted very fast to
withdraw this money from one of our finance houses before it
was closed down. I have parkaged and deposited the money in
a security company with the help of very loyal officials of
my late husband. No record is known about this fund by the
government because there is no documentation showing that we
received such funds.
Due to the current situation in the country and government
attitude to my family, I cannot make use of this money
within, thus I seek your help in recieving this funds out of
the sub-African region. Bearing in mind that you may assist
me, l have decided to part with 20% of the total sum.
Please kindly reply to: mariam_andfamily@hotmail.com
and include inclcude your personal telephone and fax
numbers.
Your urgent response is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/909972.stm

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