joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • alimusa011@yahoo.com.mx
  • alimusa011@yahoo.com.mx

Fraud email example:

From: "ALI MUSA" <ali_musa67@ali-musa.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:43:55 +0000
Subject: next of kin:Mcguire

Ali Musa CHAMBERS & CO
BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS
NO. 32 OLD OJO ROAD
AGBOJU AMUWO, LAGOS-NIGERIA
E-Mail Address:(alimusa011@yahoo.com.mx


Dear Mcguire,

I am Barrister Ali Musa ,a legal practitioner and the personal attorney to a
foreigner, (Mr. Hughson Mcguire) who used to work with Shell Development
Nigeria Plc here in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife
and three children were involved in a car accident along Epe expressway. All
of them unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several inquiries to locate my clients and his
extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet,
to locate any member of his family hence I did not suceed i deceided to
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist me to transfer this money
and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, Standared Bank of Nig. Plc, Lagos branch where the deceased
had an account valued at about US$25.7 Million Dollars Only. The bank has
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated if i can not provide his next of kin.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at US$25.7 Million Dollars Only can be paid to you and then you and I
can share the money.

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
deal through as I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in
touch with me immediately to enable us discuss further.Thank you very much
for your co-operation.

Best regards,
Barr. Ali Musa.
E-Mail Address:(alimusa011@yahoo.com.mx



--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam