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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: Abdullah Gamal <abdulsholagamal@yahoo.co.th>
Reply-To: abusholagamal@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 01:11:07 +0100
Subject: Greetings to you

Greetings to you,

I will appeal to you to give me the benefit of the doubt. My names are Mr.
Abdullah Gamal, an oil and gas engineer to one of the oil company in my
country here in Libya.

I got your contact in my search for a reliable person to handle what I am
about to bring before you. It sounds so strange to hear that one will be
searching for a prospective business acquaintance, which was exactly what I
have done, because the situation necessitated it. I am in total and absolute
control of a portfolio that could be of mutual benefit to the two of us, if
we are able to come to an agreement to work together. As you know what
happened in my country Libya about two years ago.

This is basically a confidential transaction involving transfer of fund
which is 'NOT' connected with arms, drugs or money laundering. It is the
product of an over invoiced payment by one of the foreign company we
supplied, the payment came in few days before the crisis and was kept in the
office, i had no option than to carry the funds hence the violence in here
began to impact so many offices, as am writing you no one knows if these
fund still exist because our office was set ablaze.

My main reason for contacting you is because I need you to assist me in
receiving the fund and I promise to give you 40% of the total sum, which is
$45,000,000. The fund is currently out of Libya. Please respond to my mail
if you are interested.

Best regards
Abdullah Gamal

Anti-fraud resources: