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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: Hamara Bello <mr___bello0110@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrhamarabello@voila.fr
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:39:09 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

FROM MR. HAMARA BELLO
THE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION BANK OF AFRICA
REPUBLIC OF BURKINA FASO
Email: mrhamarabello@voila.fr
Good Day Dear Friend,
First, let me start by introducing myself as MR.HAMARA BELLO, a father of three children and the Auditing and Accounting section manager with Bank of African, Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. Since May 2003 to date.
With due respect and with much sincerity of purpose I make this contact with you as I believe that you can be of great assistance to me. I know that this message will come to you as a surprise. I am Mr. Hamara Bello, the Auditing and Accounting section manager with Bank of African, Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. I Hope that you will not expose or betray this trust and confident that I am about to repose on you for the mutual benefit of our both families.
I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of U$40 (Forty million United States Dollars) to your account within 10 or 14 banking days. This money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim. I want the bank to release the money to you as the nearest person to our deceased customer who died along with his supposed next of kin in an air crash since October 31st 1999.
I don't want the money to go into government treasury as an abandoned fund. So this is the reason, why I am contacting you so that the bank can release the money to you as the next of kin to the deceased customer. Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not interested.
Upon receipt of your reply, I will give you full details on how the business will be executed and also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned sum if you agree to handle this business with me.
Please indicate your willingness by sending the below information for more clarification and easy communication.
You're Full Name:
You're Country
You're Occupation
You're Contact Address:
You're Personal Tel and Fax Number:
Note: You might be thinking where I got your contact from; I got it from the Burkina Faso chamber of commerce in a search for person who will assist me transfer this fund out of BANK OF AFRICA.
I am expecting your urgent response as soon as you receive my message.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Hamara Bello.

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