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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: "keykhosrow sobhe_lawyer" <keykhosrowsobhe@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: key@lawyersmail.com
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 12:17:56 -0800
Subject: business

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am contacting you on a transfer of a huge sum.
of money from a deseased. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make any one
apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you
that all will be well at the end of the day.
Introduction:
My name is Mr. Keykhosrow Sobhe and l am the Solicitor to Mr. Robert who died on a plane crash with his entire family on the 11th of September 2001 along side other passengers in flight 175. from Boston, Massachusetts to Los Angeles California, it was the second hijacked plane to strike the World. Trade Center plugging into the South Tower. Two pilots and seven flight attendants and fifty-seven(57) passengers were on board.
Since Mr. Roberts death, there has not been any application to claim his money by a next-of-kin as his wife who was supposed to be his next-of-kin died along side with my late client in the same accident. After 4 years of dormancy any such accounts holding funds of certain magnitudes will be re-directed to the bank treasury as unclaimed funds
and will be shared among the bank share holders. After which the file will
be closed. This is what I am trying to prevent from happening. I will rather see the whole money go directly to charity organization with a help of a foreigner.
If you share the same ideology as myself, please do not hesitate to contact me.
However, it may interest you to know that we have secured from probate
and order of mandamus to locate any of the diseased surviving next-of-kin.
upon this discovery. I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to the deceased.
All documentation will be carefully worked out by me for the funds to be released into your favor as the beneficiary's next-of-kin.

NOTE: THE REASON WHY I AM DOING THIS IS THAT,
I WOULD RATHER SEE THE WHOLE AMOUNT GO DIRECTLY TO CHARITY, THAN HAVE THOSE BANK DIRECTORS AND SHARE HOLDERS HAVE IT IN THEIR PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNTS.
IT IS ALSO A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND HOPEFULLY YOU AS WELL.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following information bellow.
1. YOUR FULL NAME/ADDRESS;
2. YOUR COMPANY NAME;
3. DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER;
Upon your acceptance I will contact you for further discussion.
I await your urgent response via this email box: key@lawyersmail.com <mailto:key@lawyersmail.com>
Regards,
Keykhosrow Sobhe


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