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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: "BARRISTER MORGAN JOHN" <morganjohn@morganjohnchambers.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:58:57 +0000
Subject: READ CAREFULLY

MORGAN CHAMBERS,
23 VICTORIA ISLAND WAY,
IKOYI LAGOS.
NIGERIA.

OUR REF: AU/RET/45673/90
YOUR REF:

ATTN: SIR/MADAM

RE: NEXT OF KIN TO MY LATE CLIENT MR ADAMS.

I AM BARRISTER MORGAN JOHN, A SOLICITOR AT LAW. I AM THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY
TO MR. ADAMS, WHO USED TO WORK WITH SHELL-DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IN NIGERIA.
HEREINAFTER SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT.ON APRIL 1999,MY CLIENT, HIS
WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A PLANECRASH OF ETHIOPIAN AIRLINE
IN COTE IVOIRE. ALL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT DIED. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE
SEVERAL ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENTS EXTENDED
RELATIVES THIS HAS ALSO PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPTS, TO LOCATE A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HENCE I CONTACTED YOU. I AM
CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND
BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY GET CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE TO THE
BANK HERE THIS HUGE DEPOSIT WERE LODGED. PARTICULARLY, THE BANK WHERE THE
DECEASED HAD AN ACCOUNT VALUED AT (USD12.5 MILLION DOLLARS) HAS ISSUED ME A
NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OR HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED WITHIN THE
NEXT FOURTEEN OFFICIAL WORKING DAYS.

SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER 3 YEARS
NOW I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED,
SINCE YOU BOTH HAVE THE SAME SURNAME AND YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS
TRANSACTION. SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT
(USD12.5.MILLIONDOLLARS) CAN BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN YOU AND I CAN SHARE THE
MONEY.70% TO ME AND 30% TO YOU. I HAVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT
CAN BE USED TO BACK UP OUR CLAIMS. ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST COOPERATION
TO ENABLE US SEEING THIS DEAL THROUGH.I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED
UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY BREACH OF THE
LAW.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BY MY EMAIL AND SEND TO ME THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATIONS,

YOUR FULL NAME.
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
TELEPHONE & FAX NUMBERS TO ENABLE US DISCUSS FURTHER ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. GET BACK TO ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE
ADDRESS barristermorganjohn@shuf.com

BEST REGARDS,

BARRISTER MORGAN JOHN.


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