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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister. Joseph Morimai" <joseph_morimai200@freemail.et> (may be fake)
Reply-To: joseph_morimai2000@freemail.et
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 04:29:06 +0100
Subject: FROM LONDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barrister. Joseph Morimai

Kindest Attention,

Firstly, not to cause you embarrassment, I am Mr.
Joseph Morimai, a Papua New Guinean by Nationality, a
Solicitor at law based in the United Kingdom and the
personal attorney to late Mr. Mark Michelle a National
of France, who used to be a private contractor with
the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Saudi
Arabia, herein after shall be referred to as my
client. On the 21st of April 2001, he and his wife
with their three children were involved in an auto
crash; all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives.

Since then, I have made several enquiries with his
country's embassies to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided
to contact you with this business partnership
proposal. I have contacted you to assist in
repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit was
lodged.

The deceased had a deposit valued presently at
30M Pounds and the Bank has issued me a notice to
provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will
otherwise have the account confiscated within the next
thirty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over three years now, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin / Will
Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of
this account valued at 30M Pounds can be paid to
you.

This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages,
60% to me and 40% to you.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used
to Back up any claim will be obtained From the Court
of England with the Certificate Of Deposit which has
been issued to me by the Bank. All I require is your
honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to
enable us see this project through.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a
legitimate Arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. All the relevant documents that
will give you the legal backing to claim the fund will
be processed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message by e-mail.

As I am based in the United Kingdom. And please
provide me the following below; this is to enable me
commence immediate preparation of all legal document
that will back up our claim.

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,

Barrister. Joseph Morimai.


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