joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: JAMES LEID <jamesleid1@netscape.net>
Reply-To: jamesleid2005@netscape.net
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 21:19:21 +0200
Subject: BEQUEST NOTIFICATION


From:jamesleid2005@netscape.net.
Date: Wed,19th October 2005 16:43:49 +0100
ESTRELLA SEGUROS Solicitor, Advocate and Notary Public Office: 10 jaunhill, piso 2 pueta2 Madrid Spain. Direct Tel: 0034-616-104-011.Fax:0034-940-465-804.

Attention: Bequest Beneficiary

Congratulation! On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Morgan William,Engr. Morgan William (late), made you a beneficiaryin his will, he left Three Million One Hundred United States Dollar (US$3.100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.My client,Engnr William was a pioneer member of STRABAGCONSTRUCTION CO.LTD, a God fearing person and Philanthropist. He died on the 9th day of February 2004 at the age of 72 and his Will is now ready for execution.
Please If I reach you as I am hopeful I will, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job so as to be very free from any blames or blame that might come up in the near future you should forward along your current telephone and Fax numbers, your current mailing address for verification.
You can also write through my chambers email address which is on this letter if you find it so difficult to make International calls or long distant calls.
Once again, I congratulate you for this is a significant honor indeed as it behooves you therefore to act at once to avoid risk of forfeiture to the deceased family.
Respectfully yours,
JAMES LEID
(HEAD OF CHAMBERS) JAMES LEID & PARTNERS.
Note: As your solicitor I please advice to keep this information from members of the public until your inheritance is duely claimed.You can on email :jamesleid2005@netscape.net. Direct phone number :0034-616-104-011, Fax:0034-940-465-804.

Anti-fraud resources: