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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: "AHMAD BELLO" <ahmbello001@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ahmbello007@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 14:49:34 +0100
Subject: Offer for consideration

ATTN:
MY DEAR,
I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL LETTER MIGHT BE A PLEASANT
SUPRISE TO YOU AS WE DON'T KNOW OUR SELVES BEFORE. I
AM MR.AHMAD BELLO, A SIERRA-LEONIAN BORN 30 YEARS
AGO,NOW SEEKING ASYLUM IN DAKAR-SENEGAL UNDER (UNHCR).
I CONTACTED YOU AS A CAUSE OF MY SERIOUS SEARCH FOR A
RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH A
CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION OF THIS NATURE.
MY FATHER (LATE) MR. FEDELIX BELLO ONE OF THE CABINET MINISTER
UNDER THE EXECUTIVE CIVILIAN PRESIDENT OF SIERRA-LEONE,BUT WAS ASSASINATED BY THE REBELS DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND PROPERTIES
DESTROYED,BUT I AND MY AGED MOTHER WITH MY TWO JUNIOR
BROTHERS NARROWLY ESCAPED WITH SOME VERY IMPORTANT
DOCUMENT OF (US$12.5M) TWELVE POINT FIVE MILLION U.S
DOLLARS DEPOSITED BY MY LATE FATHER IN A HIGH FINANCE
COMPANY HERE IN DAKAR-SENEGAL UNDER MY NAME AS NEXT OF
KIN. HOWEVER,WE SADDLED WITH THE PROBLEM OF SECURING A
TRUST WORTHY FOREIGN PERSONALITY TO HELP US TRANSFER
THIS MONEY PENDING OUR ARRIVAL TO MEET WITH YOU.
FURTHERMORE,WE ONLY WANT THIS TO BE DONE THIS WAY
BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY IS POLITICALLY STABLE FOR ANY
PROFITABLE INVESTMENT AND WE ALSO WANT TO ADD HERE
THAT IF ACCEPTED BY YOU,YOU WILL SERVE AS THE ORIGINAL
BENEFICIARY OF THE MONEY.
WE FEEL CONFIDENCE THEREFORE,TO INTRODUCE THIS OFFER
TO YOU. FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE
REGARDING THIS TRANSFER,WE HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU 15
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MONEY. THEREFORE,YOU ARE
REQUESTED TO FURNISH US BACK IMMEDIATELY YOU RECIEVE
THIS REQUEST TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY FROM DAKAR SENEGAL
TO YOUR COUNTRY RESIDENT ACCOUNT OR ANY ACCOUNT OF
YOUR INTEREST. ON COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION I
WANT TO LET YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUTURE OF MYSELF
AND FAMILY DEPENDS SOLELY ON THIS MONEY. SO PLEASE
KEEP THIS BUSINESS TO YOURSELF ONLY TO AVOID RAISE
EYEBROW OF ANY THIRD PARTY.
I AM EAGERLY EXPECTING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
AHMAD BELLO.




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