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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: "William Diop" <williamd1011@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williamd101@yahoo.co.in
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:27:43 +0100
Subject: Looking For Next Of Kin

Dear
I am barrister William Diop,the president of Diop's
chambers here in Dakar-Senegal and an adviser to some
governments establishment above all a personal lawyer
to late Mr Jones king an a American businessmen who
died two years ago on ghastly motor accident on his
way to Ziguinchor the capital of Southern region for a
business negotiations.

It was three weeks from today that I received a call
from Mr king's bank notifying me that, he deposited a
sum
of Five Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United
State Dollars($5m.250) in their bank, the went on to
say that I was contacted base on information they got
from some documents that back-up the depositions in
which my name was mention as Mr Kings personal Lawyer,
the bank advices me to provide them with the name of
the
next of kin of the money because for the past two
years and some months now, the account have been a
dormant
account. After so many attempt I made to get in touch
with the family and relations of Mr Kings from U.S.A
failed I decided to contact you because of the
ultimatum and pressure from the bank which says,that if I failed to forward them with the name of the next of kin, the account will be close finally, for this
reason your sincerely help is needed.

On my own part as a lawyer, I will facilitate in
getting all the necessary documents from the ministry
of justices here in Senegal that will prove the
Legality of this money, when it is due to be transfer
into your nominate account.

You know this money is not for both of us, all what we
need is understanding and how we are going to share it
,if by percentage, I will like you to explain your view on this statement when replying.

I wait to hear from you soonest.

Thanks and God bless you

Yours
William (Ba LLm)


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