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.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "fawad fad" <fawadibnfad@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:31:01 +0200
Subject: private issue


FAWAD IBN FAD 
 
Dear sir/madam 
 

As you read this,I don't want you to feel sorry for me,because I believe everyone will die someday. 
 

My name is Fawad ibn Fad ,a merchant in Dubai,In the U.A.E, I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer,It has defiled all forms of medical treatments,and according to medical experts, I only have about a few months to live, I have not particularly lived my life so well,as i never really cared for anyone(not even myself) but my business. 
 

Though I am very rich,I was never generous,I was always hostile to people and always focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. 
 
 

But now I regret all these as I now know that there is more to life thanjust wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe that when Allah gives me a second chance to come back into this world,I  would live my life a different way from how i lived it. Now that Allah has called me ,I have willed and given most my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends. I want Allah to be merciful to me and accept my soul when i die. 
 

I have decided to also give to charitable organizations,as I want this to be one of the last good deeds i have done on earth so far, I have distributed money to some charitable organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Zimbabwe. 
 
 

Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I can not do this myself anymore. 
 

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money to some charitable organizations in Bulgaria and 
Pakistan,they refused and kept the money to themselves. 
 

Hence,I do not trust them anymore,as they seem not to be satisfied with what i left for them. 
 
 

The last of my money which no one knows about is a huge cash deposit of EIGHTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$18,000,000.00) that i have in the vault of a finance company abroad. I will want you to collect this fund on my behalf and dispatch it to charitable organizations of your choice. 
 
 

Please endeavour to reply me through my direct and private e-mail for 

confidentiality so that i can give you further information on the project. 
 
 

I will be checking my personal e-mail awaiting your quick response. For 

your time and honesty, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total fund. 
 
May Allah be with you 
 
FAWAD IBN FAD

Anti-fraud resources: