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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: Abbey George <abbeygeorgeabbey@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 May 2015 00:14:54 +0100
Subject: PLEASE REPLY ASAP

Dear Sir, this mail is anchored on a strong desire to establish a
profitable relationship with you. My name is Abbey George, a native of
Gwoza in Borno state in north-eastern Nigeria. I was the Auditor General
of the Federal Ministry of works. I will like to settle in your country
with my family because of insecurity in my country. The insurgency by the
terrorist group, Boko Haram in my country has become a serious threat to
lives and properties. Boko Haram, a diffuse Islamist sect, has attacked
religious buildings, public institutions, and civilians with increasing
regularity since 2009. Several thousands of people have been killed and
several millions have been displaced. Recently, I lost two of my children
in a bomb blast by the insurgents and hence it has become imperative that I
must relocate my family for safety.

I considered your country to be a better place for settlement, if you can
assist us. We are not going to be a liability to you or your country. We
will be lucrative in all our endeavors. Our sustenance and livelihood will
be taken care by business investment I will establish in your country upon
our arrival. You will assist me to transfer thirteen million seven hundred
and ten thousand United States Dollars (US$13,710.000.00) to your country
for the investment. As you may be aware, I do not have any bank account in
your country where I can transfer this money. You will provide a bank
account for me in your country where I will transfer the money and you
will be handsomely rewarded. I can transfer this money to your personal or
company account. The transfer of the money may be purported for imports of
goods from your country or a loan to your company or as you may direct.
This is to make the money transfer free from suspicion or unwanted
questions by the authority. In your response, please indicate how much you
will be paid for your assistance. I am looking forward for your unflinching
and unalloyed support for this proposal.

My wife email address is (Shola_aa@yahoo.co.uk) as alternative if
difficult to reach me.

Thanks in anticipation of your cooperation.

Yours truly, Mr. A. George

Anti-fraud resources: