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: "Dr.Abdul Qahaar" <dr.abdulqahaar@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 10:03:24 GMT
Subject: Business Proposal / Partnership Investment

From The Desk OF Dr.Abdul Qahaar.
The Head of File and Auditing Department.
Bank of Africa (B.O.A).
Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso (West Africa).
                                   
                                                             TOP SECRET
                        REMITTANCE OF US$15,200,000.00 CONFIDENTIAL IS THE CASE.
           
  
This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it's just my
Urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.
I am a banker by profession from Burkina Faso in West Africa and currently holding the post of director Auditing and accounting unit of the bank.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over Funds ($15.2 million) of one of my bank clients who died Along with his entire family at 11, sept 2001 (AMERICA ATTACK).Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 60/40. I will like to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free, while further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail.
  
Your Urgent response is needed for immediate transfer of this fund into your account.
  
        (FILL THIS FORM BELLOW PLEASE AND RESEND IT TO ME).
  
1) Your Full Name..................
2) Your Age.........................
3) Marital Statuses.....................
4) Your Cell Phone Number................
5) Your Country.....................
6) Your Occupation..............
7) YOUR SEX.........................
8) Your Religion....................
9) Your Photo or Local Identity...........
  
So that I will guide you on the proper banking guidelines to follow for the claim. After the transfer, I will fly to your country for sharing according to our agreement. Assurance: Note that this transaction will never in any way harm or foiled your good post or reputation in your country, because everything will follow legal process.
I am looking forward to hear from you soonest.  
  
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Abdul Qahaar
 

Anti-fraud resources: