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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: "josh patrick" <joshpatrick1@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: joshpatrick2005@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:10:34 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT!

LETTER OF INTENT!
I am Josh Patrick I got your contact through a friend who attended a trade
mission in your country, but I did not disclose the nature of the business
to him.I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.

On June 6, 1999, an America Oilconsultant/contractor, MMr.Charles Ballass
with MICOP PETROLEUM COMPANY, made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve
calendar months, valued at US$20,700,000.00(Twenty Million Seven Hundred
Thousand Dollars )in my branch upon maturity. I sent a rountine notification
to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,we sent a reminder
and finally we discovered from his contract employers,the MICOP PETROLEUM
COMPANY that he died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999[with Egyptian
99 0] with other passengers aboaed as you can confirm it yourself via
the website below:

www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html
on further investigation, i found out that he died without making a WILL,and
attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation anddiscovered that Mr.
Charles Ballassi did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his
official documents, including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This
sum of US$20,700,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest isbeing rolled
over with the pricipal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come
forward to claim it.

According to Government law, at the expiration of five)years, the money
will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim
the fund. Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as
a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr.Charles Ballassi so that the
fruit of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt
Government officials. This is simple,I will like you to provide immediately
your full name and address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary
documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin.


We shall employ the service of two attorney for the drafting and notarization
of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration
in your favour for the transfer.

Any bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in ratio of 75%
for me and 25% for you. There
is no risk at all, the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the
attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful
execution of ths transac tion. If you are interested,please reply immediately
via the private email address below,upon your responce,i shall provide you
with more details and relevant documents 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 assitance
to invest my share in your country.

Please upon the reciept of this mail message, send to me the following,to
enable start the process of the fund into your bank
account:

1. Your full Name
2. Your private Telephone and fax numbers.
3 Your Addresses.

Immediately I recieve a mail indicating your
interest I shall send you
more details.

Thanks and regards,
Josh Patrick



___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
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Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/




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