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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: "Paul Smith" <paulsmith1920@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:20:05 -1000
Subject: GOOD NEWS

Greetings,

I am Mr Paul Smith, the personal accounting officer to a national of your
country, who worked with shell development company in West Africa. Here in
after shall be referred toas my client.

On the 21st of April 2004, 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 surname
over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable
by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly,the EcoBank International, where the deceased had an account
valued at about 7.5million dollars has issued me a notice as his accounting
officer to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within
the next ten official working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in
locating the relatives for over 1 years now i seek your consent to present
you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname
so that the proceeds of this account valued at 7.5million dollars can be
paid to you and then you and me 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 cooperation 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.

Send me the following information :
1,Your Full names :
2, Your Private secured telephone number:
3,Your occupation :
4, Your Office address or home address :

Thanks and God Bless

Best Regards.

MR PAUL SMITH
Email:smpaul_2@yahoo.dk


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