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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: "Charles Hicks Esq" <charleshicks01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: charleshicks@charleshicksassociate.com
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:44:44 +0000
Subject: From Barrister Charles Hicks

Barrister Charles Hicks
Charles Hicks Assocaite
Barrister In Law/Notary Public
London.
Tel: 44-7040106632
fax: 44-8701303712

Dear Sir/Madam,

How are you and things in general? hope fine, I must
solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by
virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential.

I am Barrister Charles Hicks, the attorney to my late
client late Mark.C. Hyman, who died in an autocrash,
Was an Engineer with multi national company in South
Africa.

My client, Late Mark .C. Hyman, has a domiciliary account
valued, US$12.5million with one of distressed bank
(name withheld). Now, The Federal Government has the
entensions to close down some of her offshore affiliates
clearing houses abroad and confiscate all foreign accounts,
while consider it un-claimable.

I seek you concept to act arelation, next of kin so you
will be the beneficairy of this funds in my late client
account, because my client did not leave any WILL behind
and this has so far given me problems in locating any of
his relations since he died with his wife and only child
in the autocrash. Please be informed that, I would not be
happy to see the Government confiscate this account
belonging to my late client, therefore, I hereby solicit
your cooperation to stand as the next of kin to my late
client.

I shall actively, provide you with the legal documents as
per the legitimacy of this issue that will grant you the
access to claim this funds.

We shall divide this money 50% 50% each!

Further, endeavour to send me your contact address as well
as you telephone number, in receipt of them, I shall call
you to discuss other related matters. "I do not know any
other way to reach you other than this"

Thanking you in anticipation for yourcooperation.

Best regards and have a nice day.
Mr.charles Hicks(ESQ)

 

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