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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Osaro Ernest Balogun" <info@mxlmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:49:59 +0000
Subject: Hello Sir/Madam ASSISTANCE NEEDED PLS.

Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter may come to you as a surprise. Please do accept my sincere apologies if do do not like it.
I am Mr. Ernest Osaro  Balogun, son of the former Inspector General of the Nigerian police force. I got your email address from the internet-network-directory in the time i was desperately looking for a trustworthy person to assist me in this confidential transaction.
My father Ahlaji Tafa Balogun ex-inspector general of the Nigerian police Force, while in office was able to deposit a large sum of money in different banks in europe. My father is presently facing trials and the movement of his family members (including me) is highly restricted, all his account both in and outside my country (Nigeria) has been frozen by the nigerian gorvernment, we are forbidden to either travel abroad or out of our localities, unfortunately this plans has been twarted by his sorbodinate who framed him up and we no longer trust any of his friend,the case is presently in court and he is presently in a house arrest, hense his movement is being restricted pending on the out come of the investigation by the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).
In my last visit to him, he confided in me that i should not make any attempt to travel out of the country that he has gathered that my movement and my activities as the first son is being monitored, right now as I am writing you this letter, my father comes out of the Nigerian
Televission Authority (NTA) network news every 9:oopm everyday in nigeria, during my fathers tenure, he deposited the sum of £10,000,000.00 (Ten Million British Pounds) in a Bank located in London (United Kingdom) with my names. Presently, this money  my father transfered to London is safe with the Bank firm.
Before you can get access to it,I have to give you the details. I am therefore soliciting your help to have this money transfered into your account before my government get to find out about this account, as you know my father was the police boss in Nigeria before his arrest. My reason for doing this is because it will be difficult for the Nigerian government to trace this account because it was opend with my names and in my favour. I decided to contact you to help me keep this money.
At present the money is safe with the bank in Lo ndon. and i am going to trvel out of Nigeria with my family immidiatly the tention about my father is a little beat calm. Please if you are ready to help in this transaction i will give you the information needed before you can get access to this account. Reply me by furnishing me with your full names and contact address with phone number so that i can give you the next information on this transaction. I am willing to give you a reasonable percentage of the fund for your assistance by giving you  20% of the total funds as compensation for your assistance, 10% will be set aside to take care of all expenses that we may be incure during this transaction while i and my family will have the balance (70%).
PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY REQUIRED.
Indicate your interest by replying me through this email address: osaro_ernest@mighty.co.za
Your"s Sincerely
Mr O.E BALOGUN.

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