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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: madous william <madous_william04@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: madous_william03030@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:22:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Please


Solicitor,Advocate and Notary Public
No 7, Justice Rd, Palez Du Congress
Judicial Plaza,Lome-Togo.
Dear: Friend,

My earlier letter to you through the Post Office was returned undelivered, therefore I now attempt to reach you via your email address as it appears to be the next and the only option left unexplored. My client, Mr. Max Kavanagh(Late) an Australian Nationality had a deposit valued the sum of USD$14.5Milliom with Equitorial Security Sarl in account NO. 0002135468975/ECOBANK, which is lying dormant with bank since my client met unexpected death with his wife and their only son in Indonesia during their Holiday trip.
The incident made my client who was a pioneer member of STRABAG CONSTRUCTION CO.LTD,a dedicated Christian and Philanthropist with wife and their only son to be among Eighty Eight(88) Australian victims of 12th October 2002 Bali Bombing, out of 202 fatalities. BBC AND CNN will give you more details of the brutal bomb blast of 12th October 2002.

Since the death of my client, i have personally made several enquiries to Australian embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. and the banking rules and regulations here stipulates that any deposit in the bank that lies dormant after the period of 6yrs will be confiscated and converted to government treasury. Infact this is alot worrisome to me because i don't our Government to take advantage of my client's funds when i have all the related documents of my client deposit filed with me,which will help to get the funds claimed.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 6years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to my client since you are a foreigner with proof of Foreign Identification, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Than allowing the US$14.5 million that left behind by my client gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm and be transfer to Government Treasury where the money will be shared among them to no one asks questions because it is lawful that after 6yrs,such funds will be confiscated.
Note that on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. Meanwhile, I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I Look forward to your quick reply.
Best Regards.
Barr.Madous William.
No 7 Justice Rd, Palez Du Congress
Judicial Plaza,Lome-Togo.



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