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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: "Chris Lawson"<file147@ekolay.net>
Reply-To: <chris.law47@yahoo.com.pe>
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:51:11 +0100
Subject: From Chris Lawson, LLB (Hons)

>From Chris Lawson, LLB (Hons)
Barrister & Solicitor
01 BP 3333 Cotonou,
Republique du Benin

Dear: Friend,

I am Barrister Chris Lawson , a solicitor. and personal attorney to my late client Engr JB Kerkletz,
A national of your country,who used to Work with Sonacob Petroleum Company here in Rep of Benin
after shall be referred to as my client. In 2003, my client, his wife and their two children were involved
in a plane crash in a village called Adjarra near Porto Novou after take off from Cotonou in Benin Republic.
It was unfortunate that my client and his family all lost their lives in the crash.For more on the plane crash
log on to:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

Since then I have made several enquiries in Cotonou and Porto Novou to locate any of my clients extended
relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track
search with his last name to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated, frozen
or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged.Particularly where the
deceased had an account valued at about $7.1 Million United States Dollars Only (Seven Million , One
Hundered Thousand United States Dollars Only)The Management has issued me a notice to provide the
next Of kin or have the account frozen within the next twenty one Official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now i seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds
of this account valued at USD7.1M can be paid to you and both of us will share the money. I have all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not Wasted or end up in the wrong hands. All I require is
your honesty,co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I am waiting your urgent
reply.

Thanks for your understanding, E-mail: chrislawson@barristers-solicitors.org


Chris Lawson, LLB (Hons)
Barrister & Solicitor
Cotonou, Republique du Benin

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