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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: "john okoh" <johnokoh_barr@msn.com>
Reply-To: johnokoh_barr@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 11:12:26 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Dear sir/ma
I am Barrister john okoh a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to my late Mr. Pitt Mills, a national of your country, who used to
work with one of the oil servicing Company in Nigeria. Here in after
shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their 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 here to locate
any of my clients 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
contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at
US$7.1million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or
declared unserviceable by the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OF
NIGERIA (ADB), where this huge amount were deposited. The said BANK has
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confisicated within the next fourteen official working days.
For the fact that I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives
for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of
kin to the deceased,since you have the same last name with my client, so
that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on
receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio
and modalities for transfer.
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you
up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this transaction through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get back to me with
my most prefered yahoomailbox.johnokoh_barr@yahoo.it
Best regards,
Barrister john okoh


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