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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: "Mr.Sochima Nathanael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_barrcobiako@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:50:54 +0100
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR PAST EFFORT AND CONTACT MY SECRETARY FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING FUNDS.

My Dear Friend,
 
Hello,compliments of the day to you and your noble family.
 
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Spain.I'm in Spain but by next week I will be in Dubai (UAE) for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile,I do not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the fund despite the fact that it failed us some how in the past.Now contact my confidential- lawyer,by name,Barrister Craig Obiako, through his e-mail; barristercraig.obiako@ymail.com) and for immediate payment call him on +229-96606619 and ask him to release the total sum of $2,500,000.00usd (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State of America Dollars Only) which I kept for you as your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
 
I appreciate your efforts at that time very much and I feel that there is no better time to show my appreciation to you than this yuletide season of the year. So feel free and get in touch with my secretary and ask him to immediately release the amount to you.For you urgent payment call him immediately.
 
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings at that time. At the moment,I am very busy here because of the investment projects which I and the new partner are having at hand .
 
Finally, be informed that I had forwarded an instruction to the lawyer to release the Draft ($2,500,000.00usd) to you as soon as you request for it. Therefore, feel free to get in touch with him. He will release the Draft to you without any delay and please,be informed that the $2,500,000.00usd International Bank Draft is made in your name, I shall for ever remain gratefull to you.Have a nice working day and my humble greetings to your noble family
 
Regards,
Mr Sochima Nathanael.

Anti-fraud resources: