joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "CAPTAIN HASSAN USMAN" <hassan200usman@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: hassan20usman@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 17:44:22 +0000
Subject: Attn: Director./

DEAR.

I'M CAPTAIN HASSAN USMAN, ONE. CHARLES TAYLOR'S MILITARY MAN IN LIBERIA. THIS LETTER IS TO SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE,I'M PROCESSING UNDER CONDITION OF CONFIDENTIALITY. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY FOR MY FIRST CONTACT WITH YOU, I FEEL THAT EMAIL CONTACT IS MORE PRIVATE IN THIS MATTER.

AS RELIABLE PERSON,I'M CONFIDING IN YOU, HOPING YOU WILL NEVER BETRAY ME, MY MOST CONCERN,IS YOU TO RECOGNIZE ME AS YOUR FRIEND WHILE ESTABLISHING A LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIP. PRESENTLY, I AM IN DAKAR-SENEGAL,WITH THE SUM OF EGHTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS (USD$18,000.000.00M)THIS MONEY WAS KEPT UNDER MY CARE, BY THEN WHEN I WAS A COMMANDANT, IN LIBERIAN ARMY. THE MONEY WAS FOR PURCHAING OF THE ARMS FROM URKRAIN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE REBBELS, BUT, I SECURED THE MONEY FOR MY OWN USE.

THE MAIN REASON OF MY CONTACT TO YOU, IS TO HELP ME TO ARRANGE MOVE THE MONEY OUT FROM HERE TO YOUR SECURE PLACE, PENDING WHEN I WILL MEET WITH YOU, AND TO HELP ME GET A GOOD PROFITABLE BUSINESS "ETC" YOUR ADVICE NEEDED.

NOTE THAT SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THIS MONEY WOULD BE COMPENSATED TO YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME, SO THAT I WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. PLEASE KEEP THIS UTMOST SECRECY AND CONFIDENTIAL AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MY PRESENT CONDITION IN
DAKAR- SENEGAL BECAUSE I AM INTO HIDING AT THE MOMENT. PLEASE REPLY AT hassan20usman@hotmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
SINCERELY YOURS,
CAPTAIN HASSAN USMAN.



Anti-fraud resources: