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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "Jeff Smitherman" <jeffsmitherman@law-chambers.net>
Reply-To: jeffsmitherman09@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 00:24:51 +0000
Subject: YOUR HONEST CO-OPERATION: PHYLLIS

  
                    JEFF SMITHERMAN & ASSOCIATES
                                    (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS)
                                     12 ISAAC JOHN STREET.
                                      IKEJA, LAGOS. NIGERIA.
                               Email:(jeffsmitherman09@yahoo.com)
                                                                                        06/10/2005 
Dear: Phyllis
 
I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and Current development Please bear with me.  I am Attorney Jeff Smitherman, a solicitor at law.
 
I am the Personal and International attorney to Dr.Phyllis   David, a national of your country,an oil consultant /contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.On March 16 2004 my Client made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twenty four calendar months, Valued at (US$28,700,000.00)  in CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN). Upon maturity, I sent a routine otification to his Forwarding address but got no reply.After a month, I sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his Contract employers, (The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation)  that he died in   plane crash in Los Angeles (USA ) 9 involving the malibu couple,Paul Tobias, the pilot, as you Can confirm it yourself via the website below:
 
http://home.earthlink.net/~jetairpollution/id26.html
 
On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a Will, and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.I, therefore, made further investigations and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or Relations on all official documents, including his bank deposit Documents in my office. This sum of (US$28,700,000.00) is still in CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN), and the Interest is being rolled over with the principal sum  at the end of each Year, No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of (two) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
 
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to Stand as the next of kin to  him since you from the same foreigne country with him,so that the Fruit of this man's labor will not get into the hands of some Corrupt Government officials here in Nigeria. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name, private telephone/mobile# and address so that I will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin.

As his Personal Attorney I have all right for the drafting and notarization of the will and obtain the Necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer.Any bank account in any part of the world, which you will provide.Regarding to the sharing ratio, I will like to discused with you. As soon as you reply.If you are interested, upon your response, I shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
 
Futhermore,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. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this Transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.Please upon the receipt of this mail message, send to me the Following,to enable me start the process of the fund into your bank account:

1. Your full Name, address and country.
2. The name of your bank and address
3. Telephone and fax numbers of the bank
4. Account numbers/beneficiary's name
5. Your private Telephone and fax numbers 

Yours   Sincerely,
Attorney Jeff Smitherman
--

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