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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: "Mr Ali Ahmad." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ali_ahmadd52@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:22:56 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION:CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

United Bank For Africa Plc
Head Office UBA House,
57,Marina,
P.O.Box 2406,Lagos.
 
Sir,
 
I am Mr Ali Ahmad.The Audit & Accounts Manager with the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA). I write to request your assistance in the movement of a certain sum of $9.500.000.00 (Nine million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) to a foreign bank account where it can be safely held by the account owner pending disbursement. The money belongs to one of our deceased customers, (Grace Y. M. Chiang who passed away on Friday, January 30, 2015. Grace was a resident of Alhambra, California and since then the fund has been in a suspense account).
 
This customer died with her documented next of kin and according to the laws and constitution guiding our bank, after four (4) years, if no one comes forward to lay claims to a deceased customer's deposit, the deposited funds will be sent to our government Treasury as unclaimed assets. Hence I want to present you to my bank to stand as next of kinh with adequate documentation to enable us quietly claim these funds.
 
On successful claim we shall split the funds 60/40. Upon receipt of your response indicating interest in the plan, I shall let you know further requirements to process the claim. I look forward to a timely response to this email.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Mr Ali Ahmad.
 
 
LAW CHAMBERS OF ADWOA NANA & ASSOCIATES;
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES PUBLIC
Suite 117-119, 1st Floor, Swanzy Shopping Arcade 45 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.
Accra-Ghana.
Direct Tel: +233 749-004-274, +233 261-431-148.
Nigeria Office: Suite 17, Maitama Office Complex, Garki, Abuja. Nigeria.
Tel: +234-81-7539-7250
 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This e-mail and any attachments are for the exclusive and confidential use of the intended recipient.  If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, distribute, or take action in reliance upon this message.  If you have received this in error, please promptly delete this message and its attachments from your computer system.  We do not waive client-attorney or work product privilege by the transmission of this message.

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