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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 Robert Basil" <barr_robertbasil2005@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 16:43:03 +0000
Subject: From: ROBERT BASIL (ESQ)



From: ROBERT BASIL (ESQ)
ROBERT& ASSOSCIATES,
4 Albert Embankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.

Attention: MY GOOD FRIEND

I am Barrister Robert Basil. I have a client Mr.Mark who bears the
same name with you,a foreigner who used to work with Mekon Associates
Company in London.

On the 2nd of August 2003, my client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express Road. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my
client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the
internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I
contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by
my client before they got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
Finance House where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the
Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at about US$20M has
issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nine
(9) months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20M can be paid
to you and then you and I can share the money; 50% to me and 50% to you, I
have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we
may make, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this
transaction 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 first by my secured and confidential email


barr_robert_basil0050@yahoo.com

immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message.

Anticipating your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,




BAR. ROBERT BASIL (ESq)



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