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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: "Advocate Hamid Faizal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hamidfaizallawfirm@lawyer.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 18:28:48 +0800
Subject: A'SSALAMUALEKIUM TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, KINDLY CONTACT URGENTLY!

Advocate Hamid Faizal Law Firm
6th Floor, Jalan Ampang, 50450
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Direct line: +60-169 030 973
Fax No: +60- 311784235
 
Attention dear beneficiary,
 
We are pleased to notify you that your email address and name came up in a random draw conducted by my law firm.
 
My name is Advocate Hamid Faizal (Esq.) A personal attorney to my late client Dr. Mohd Bin Arafin who worked with an oil firm here in Malaysia, Dr. Mohd Bin Arafin a well known Philanthropist who died along with his entire family in the Air France Flight 447 plane crash on 1 June2009 as reported in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_447
 
Before he died, he made a Will in my law firm stating that $6.5000 000M (Six million, Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) only should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice outside Malaysia (Overseas.)
 
My chambers conducted a random draw which was supervised by the Ministry of justice, The attorney General of Malaysia and the holding bank where the money was deposited by my late client Dr. Mohd Bin Arafin, and your name and e-mail address was picked as the beneficiary to this (WILL). I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing my chamber to produce the beneficiary of this Will which happens to be you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as per law here in my country Malaysia.
 
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. Dr. Mohd Bin Arafin. You are advice to contact me immediately to start the process of transferring this money to any of your designated official bank account.
 
I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit.
 
Please contact me urgently via my personal email address as follows:
 
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.
 
Regards
Advocate Hamid Faizal
Direct line: +60-169 030 973

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