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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Bello Usman" <usman.bello888@gawab.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 11:03:00 GMT
Subject: Yes, you can trust me.

Dear VICTIMNAME,
 
I have received your mail, thank you for your response and acceptance to assist us in this transaction despite your former expirence of the inheritance fund. This transaction is 100% risk free and real.
 
Following your mail, this is to inform/assure you that this transaction is not inheritance or fraud, this is real contract fund and  the initial contractor has been fully paid and the over invoice sum of $40M is still in our federal account with the central bank of nigeria (CBN). All we need to get this fund remited successfully into your account is to apply for contract award certificate in your name, which will prove that you are the real person that execute the contract valued $40M. To this effect, we are going to secure the services of a good and reputable attorney who will personally handle the preocessing of the contract award  certificate and other vital documents that will be necessary for the remittance of the contract fund in to your account.
 
To achieve this mission, we advise you to send the following information to us immediately:-
 
1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS
2. COMPANY'S NAME
3. TELEPHONE, FAX AND MOBILE NO.
4. BANK NAME, BANK ADDRESS, ACCOUNT NO AND ACCOUNT NAME.
 
Furthermore, We are top government officials, with political ambition in 2007 general election, we will not like you to expose this transaction to any person, for security reasons.
 
I am assuring you that after the transaction, we all are going to benefit and you will cover the money which you spent on the inheritance.
 
All we need from you is your trust, cooperation and maximum assistance.
 
Waiting for your mail, call me
 
Best regards,
 
Usman Bello
Tel: 234 1 7212928.
 
 
 
VICTIM-FULLNAME writes:
> I apologize for the late reply.
>
> Last year I received an email about an inheritance in Cote d'Ivoire. Even
> though I paid almost £2500 ($5000) in fees to Barrister Eze, I have not
> yet
> received the money.
>
> I don't want to get burnt again.
> Can I really trust you?
>
> VICTIMNAME
> Harrow, London
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