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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: "Ismail hammond Buku Jr" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gwalter15@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 08:10:41 -0700
Subject: MILLION DOLLARS BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Good day to you , I am so sorry for sending you an unsolicited email, is just that I did not have any other alternative than to do so, I got your contact from a business directory, while searching for an investor and decided to contact you myself for the sake of investment. I am the only son of my late parents Mr.and Mrs.Ismail Buku ,my father was a highly reputable business man who operated in the capital of Ivory coast and Nigeria during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad on the 12th September 2005. Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 22 yrs old, and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on September 2004, he called me and informed me that he has the sum of EIGHTY MILLION United State Dollars.(USD$80,000,000.00)left in A SECURITY COMPANY . He further told me that he deposited the money in my name, and also gave me all the necessary documents to this fund between him and the security company where he made the deposit. I am just 24 years old and an university undergraduate and really don't know what to do.Now I need your assistance so that we can get this fund out from the security company and transfer it into your account permanently in your country till a time that it will be convinient for me to come to your country,this is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life and I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of business world. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions: 1. Can you honestly help me from your heart? 2. Can I completely trust you? 3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your custody? Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immediately I confirm your willingness, I will send to you all, inform you more details involved in this matter.via: email. Kind Regards, Ismail hammond Buku Jr

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