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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 Usman Zaki <mrusmanzaki@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:31:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR. USMAN ZAKI


FROM THE DESK OF MR. USMAN ZAKI
THE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING
SECTION MANAGER BANK OF AFRICA,
(B.O.A.) OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.
 
I am MR. USMAN ZAKI, Auditing and Accounting Manager of Bank of Africa (B.O.A) Burkina Faso Ouagadougou.
 
I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE NEVER MEET BEFORE, I want to inquire from you if you can handle this transaction for mutual benefits/life opportunity for both of us.
 
The transaction is about seeking your assistant to present you as the next of kin/ beneficiary of the $10 Million (Ten Million united state dollars), and who is a customer to the bank where I work He died in plane crash in Egypt, with his family during their vacation journey.
 
The Fund is currently in a suspense account awaiting claim, the bank made a public notice in the bank that they are ready to release this fund to any of his relative’s abroad.
    
After hearing from you I will give you more details about the transaction, if your interpreted please send me the following immediately.
 
(1) YOUR FULL NAME.
 
(2) YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS.
 
(3) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.
 
(4) YOUR PROFESSION.
 
(5)YOU’RE AGE.
 
YOURS FRIEND.
MR. USMAN ZAKI.  


Anti-fraud resources: