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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: "Mark white" <markwhite@zipmail.com.br> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mkwhite@box.az
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:39:42 +0000
Subject: It is obvious

From :Barrister Mark White

I am Barrister Mark White (UK) the legal attorney to Senator Paul Wellstone of the United States.

It is obvious that this proposal will not come to you as a suprise since there are tales about the internet. but need not to worry as i am using the only secured and confidential medium available to seek for foreign assistance in a huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to the two of us.

This business request may seem strange, but I crave your indulgence and pray you view it seriously as I am convinced that you would be capable to provide me with a solution to a money transfer.

On the 25th of October 2002, my client, Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila and daughter, and five others were involved in a fatal Plane Crash traveling to northern Minnesota. He died in the midst of one of the most hard-fought senate races of the mid-term campaign, battling to retain a seat which the Republicans have targeted in order to win back control of the senate.

Unfortunately they all lost their lives including other people in the Plane.Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives since his only dauther who he has placed as his next of kin was also a victim but this has prooved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but also to no avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money valued at about US$9.3Million (Nine Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)lying in a bank in europe and property left behind by my client since my search to locate any of his relatives has prooved unsuccessful and his bank has given a mandate to me to bring fought a member of his family or any of his next of kin to claim the money and properties left behind by my client which if not met with will confisticate his money and assets and send them to the banks treasury as unclaimed since the funds are now lying in the suspence account of the bank.


It is for this reason i write to seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$9.3Million (Nine Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) will be paid into your account and then you and I can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses,tax as your government may require.

All necessary legal documents that will back you up in this claim shall be prepared by me as the legal attorney and submits it to the bank for immediate release of the money and assets to you as the deceased next of kin .All I require of you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as this transaction is 100% risk free .

If you are interested, please reply immediately via my private email address below, upon your responses, I shall provide you with more details that will help you understand the transaction.
Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Upon your receipt of this mail message, send to me the following to enable me start the processing of the fund transfer:
1.) Your full name and address.
2.) Your private / official telephone and fax number.

Awaiting your Urgent Reply via my private email: mkwhite@box.az / or call me

on my private telephone number: +44 704 0101561

Thanks and God bless,

Barrister Mark white



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