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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: "Geoffrey Bell" <geoffbelllaw@msn.com>
Reply-To: geoffbelllaw@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 19:25:19 +0000
Subject: Trusted partner

Dear Friend,

I am Geoffrey Bell, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name
Alh.Abdul Mohammed,
who here in after shall be referred to as my client,died in Banda Aceh in
Indonesia with all members of is family in the deadly Tsunami.

Please log to this website for more about the
Tsunamiwww.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/tsunami.disaster/
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/200.../default.stm


I am contacting you to assist me in ensuring that the funds lodged by my
client with a Financial Institution Abroad. The financial institution is not
decleared unclaimed hence my reason for contacting you.

The financial institution has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin,
or the Funds lodge by
my client will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client,so that the proceeds of this
funds can be transfer to you,Then we can share the funds and give half to
the victim of the tsunami in Indonesia, As donation from my late client.
I have all documents that shows He deposite it with the financial
institution. We will Share
on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be
provided. All I require
is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral
values,do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your
interest.

However if you are willing to assist me in this venture. I will establish a
verbal telephone
communication with you and bring you into a much better picture of the
situation.

Best Regards

Geoffrey Bell



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