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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: "JIM ELAINE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jelainebarrister@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:17:38 -0000
Subject: Friend

Attn: Friend,
 
I am Barrister JIM ELAINE an attorney at law. My interest in you lies in the fact that you share the same last name with one of my deceased client ,I therefore seek your consent to present you as the heir/heiress or the beneficiary of my late client deceased estate/fund, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. This office as legal representatives of the deceased was issued 8 months ago with a notice to contact heir/heiress, or the account will be confiscated.
 
I advertised this issue but no one has turned up for this period prompting me to write this letter to you as a last resort to avoid the money from being taken by the state.
 
Based on your last name I am contacting you to assist in distributing the money and other assets left behind by my client of which the other assets will be revealed at a later date once this money is successfully transferred. The transfer has to be done before everything is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this deposit valued at US45 million dollars is lodged.
 
Note that it is not compulsory that the heir must be a blood relation to the deceased, and no DNA TEST will be conducted An heir could be anybody, Friends, Church, School or Organization etc. If you agree to work with me and we keep this matter confidential then kindly send your details so that we begin the process and I give you more details.
 
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology.
 
Best Regard,
 
Barr. Jim Elaine
Partner/Senior Attorney.
 
E-mail:
jelainebarrister@yahoo.com
lawyerslawyers69@yahoo.com

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