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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Micheal Omar" <omarmicheal@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 16:29:56 +0000
Subject: Offer,..

From the desk of
Barrister Micheal Omar
Micheal Omar chambers
Rue 9 X 15 Boulivard Vill Malick
DAKAR SENEGAL
Dear,
I am Micheal Omar an Attorney at law. A deceased Client of mine Mr Watanabe, who was on a business tirp to Ziguinchor, the capital of Southern part of Senegal on September 12th 2001, died as a result of cardiac arrest when he heard that his wife and only daughter died at the september 11th terrorist attack in the united states.(World Trade Centre).
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating most especial the money he left behind in a bank here in senegal before it get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank, since you have the same name and also from your country.The bank, knowing me to be his lawyer has adviced me to provide them with the name of the next of kin to Mr Watanabe because for the past two years and some months now, the account have been a dormant account. I have made so many attempt to get in touch with the family and relations of Mr Watanabe but all to no avil. I decided to contact you because of the ultimatum twenty one days from now and pressure from bank which says that if I failed to forward them with the name of the next of kin to Mr Watanabe, the account will be close finally, since government has authorised banks to place on hold or freeze any account containing huge sums of money that has been unserviceable for a reasonable period of time.This is geared towards forestalling capital flight from the
economy. So for this reason your sincerely coporation is needed. The amount involved is 10.5 Million USD.
My proposition to you, is to seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin to Mr Watanabe. The valued at 10.5 million dollars can be paid to you ,and then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed percentage.Intend to give 30% for you, 50% for me, 10% for a reputable charity home because the money is owned by a deceased man and 10% set aside for any expenses during the course of this transaction.
All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin, will be provided. 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 but if not, then contact me at once to indicate your interest, By giving me your telephone number so that i too can contact you and you can reach me through my private mail box(omarmicheal@yahoo.co.uk <mailto:omarmicheal@yahoo.co.uk>)
Best regards,
Barrister Micheal Omar



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