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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: "OPINIONS BEN" <opinionsben@msn.com>
Reply-To: opinonsbb@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 06:45:20 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

From:Opinions Ben Blue Chambers
     30/35 Wema St.Bariga
     Lagos -- Nigeria
TEL: 234-8034276645
ATTEN: Griffin 
 
Sir,
For introductory purpose,I am Barrister BEN BLUE
Solicitor and advocate.By the special grace of God,I
am the principal partner of Opinions Ben Blue Chambers Lagos
Nigeria. I am the Personal Attorney to Engr.Wilson
Griffin a national of your country, who used to work
with shell development company in Nigeria.On the 2nd
of may 1999, my client, his wife And their three
children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama
Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made
several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients 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 in repartriating the money that belong to my
client before they get confisicated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits
were lodged according to laws here..
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an
account valued at  US$9 million dollars has issued me
a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confisicated within the next 20 official
working days. Since I have been unsuccesfull in
locating the relatives for over 4 years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are from the same country and bear
the same last name ,so that the proceeds of this
account valued at $9 million dollars can be paid to
you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me
and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax
as your government may require, I have the certificate
of deposit that can be used to back up any claim we
may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this project 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 or give a call immediately on the following
number: +234-8034276645 to enable us discuss
further.
I await your urgent response.
Best regards,
Barrister BEN BLUE{ESQ} JP.
{Principal Partner,Opinions Ben Blue Chambers}
 
Tel: +234-8034276645
Please send your reply to this email address only:
 

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