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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: MARTIN WRIGHT <mwright@mail.am>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:49:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re:Barrister Martin Wright





 


Barrister Martin Wright
Will & Probate Solicitors
2 Crown Office Row
Benin Republic
Tel No +229 9653 7999

Dear Friend

We are writing to notify about this bequest as our earlier notification was not delivered. I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise, Please accept the content in good faith. I do not intend to cause any grief  to you and your family. The reason for sending this mail is very fundamental to the doctrine of human privileges and right.

My name is Martin Wright a legal practitioner based in Benin and the personal Attorney to late William , from your country originally who died along with his son in the London Terrorist Tube explosion between King's Cross-and Russell Square in 2005.Amount involved is §28.3 usdollars including 25kg of alluvial gold dust.

After the death of my client his bankers contacted me, as his Attorney to provide his next of kin who should inherit his funds. I tried severally on my own to locate his relatives  without success.

I was mandated by the Bank's Board to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within 28 Working days or forfeit the money to the bank as an abandoned property. The bankers had planned to invoke the appropriate law and confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me.

Fortunately, I contacted your embassy here and to my greatest astonishment you bear the same surname with my late client and you are both from the same country. Being convinced that you may be related with my late client or that you might provide clue to my search, I therefore, decided to contact you with the facts before me.

I have reasoned professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as the next of kin of my deceased client, so that you can be paid the funds left in his bank account. I therefore seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are at an advantage, bearing the same surname and equally from the same country that the proceeds of this Bank Account can be paid to you.

I am proposing a negotiated commission for my legal services which shall be paid upon the receipt of your inheritance, and that would be after the deduction of all applied expenses which government may require as Tax.

Please contact me directly to my direct line as show  +229 9653 7999  
Best Regards
Barrister.Martin Wright



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