joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "femi johnson" <f_johnson123@doneasy.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 17:38:40 -500
Subject: HELLO DEAR,MERRY XMAS


FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER FEMI JOHNSON
ATTORNEY AT LAW
JOHNSON & ASSOCIATES

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Barrister Femi Johnson, I want to use this medium after going through your profile to seek for your assistance in a business transaction which is of mutual benefit.
A foreigner named late Mr. Christian Ting who was an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company until his death in an ill fated plane crash UTA Flight 141 on Thursday 25th December, 2003 in Cotonou along the coast of West Africa, had a balance of US$5.5million with Union Bank and the bank now expects any of his available next of kin to claim.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm
To this regard, I am contacting you being the lawyer to the deceased as I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the deceased bank to look for the deceased next of kin, which I have done and found out that he has no next of kin which means that these funds will be lost to the government.

In order to avert this development, I seek your indulgence to have you stand as late Mr. Christian Ting's next of kin so that the funds will be subsequently transferred and paid into your foreign account. On indicating your interest, all documents and proofs to enable you get this funds will be carefully worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free transaction. You will be allowed to retain 20% of the total amount after the transaction. If this proposal is okay by you, and you wish to take advantage of the trust bestowed on you, kindly contact me with this e-mail address ( barristerfemi_johnson123@yahoo.co.uk ) to enable me furnish you with relevant details to this transaction.
Your telephone number and Fax number would be necessary for effective communication.

Best regards,
Femi Johnson (esq)
Email: barristerfemi_johnson123@yahoo.co.uk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get your FREE email, calendar, file storage, bookmarks, diary/journal, and other great services at
http://www.doneasy.com ! doneasy.com "Where timesaving is priceless!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Anti-fraud resources: