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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: michael bolan <barr_michael_bolan@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barrmichaelbolan@netscape.net
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:06:47 +0100
Subject: Confidential Claims Project for you


Confidential Claims Project for you

From: Michael Bolan (Barr.)

Russell Jones & Walker
Solicitors
Swinton House
324 Grays Inn Road
London
United Kingdom
WC1X 8DH
www.rjw.co.uk

13/01/2005

Dear Sir/Madam,

Subject: Confidential Claims Project for you

I obtained your contact amongst a selected category of business people through whom this confidential business proposal can be achieved and
an partnership investment subsequently formed.

I have a choiced unclaimed bank account here in the United Kingdom which I intend that we work together to receive with you as the
beneficiary/claimant. The bank account is worth £5,310,900.00 and was legally owned by one of my private clients. For 3 years,I acted as the
UK legal representative to Mr. Umar Al Tariq who was a very humble oil merchant from United Arab Emirates. When I did not hear from him in
2001, I had to travel to the UAE to investigate if he was still alive since I knew he was suffering from a terminal cancer dicease. My client
had died in December 2000 and had no means of correspoding with me again. Mr. Umar Al Tariq and I met in June 1999 when he came to the UK to make this numbered deposit at a local bank here that had offshore banking facilities.

The original documents to the funds are in my possession. And I have a power of attorney duly bestowed upon me by Mr.Umar himself and
graciously attested to here at the Supreme of London. I have the benefit of professionalism to assist us in collecting this money. Be
guaranteed of that.

We can discuss any other matters arising when you indicate your interest in my proposal. My private email address is:
barrmichaelbolan@netscape.net .The issue of unclaimed funds is already causing a huge debate in the United Kingdom. Please read the following news
sites for more information:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9063-1897238,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005520350,00.html

I will expect to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Michael Bolan (Barr.)

Russell Jones & Walker
Solicitors
Swinton House
324 Grays Inn Road
London
United Kingdom
WC1X 8DH
www.rjw.co.uk

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