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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: EDWARD SMITH <edward40@walla.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:09:13 +0200
Subject: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN


Sir,

Kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you ,we have chosen to write to you after duly search through chambers of commence to solicit your attention to help our client find a solution and rescue over his incident because you seem to be our last hope for now.



I believe you are a highly respected personality considering a careful research which i have been able to make inrespect to your kind of person,before i decided to entrust this transactions and database into your hands which i beleive you will not betray my trust and confidence already repossed on you.



Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events and fragile political situation in Chile but it has formed consistent headlines in the CNN,BBC news bulletins.



My name is Edward Smith I am an International Attorney and one of the legal Aids to the former ruler and president of Chile.

General Augusto Pinochet who came to power in 1970 as Salvador Allende Elected president in August of 1973 the then Allende appointed gen. Pinochet as Army commander in chief and in September of 1973 Gen. Pinochet seizes power in coup and in 1988 Gen. Pinochet loses referendum on rule; elections followed and he leaves office in 1990.Though he was arrested in London on Spanish warrant, we fought the case and he was released and freed on medical grounds in the year 2000.You can get the full stories posted in the web site below: ( Story from BBC News)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/4696617.stm



Before Gen. Pinochet was ousted from office in the year 2000 he moved out the sum $ 13.5m each to both the Republic of Ireland and Spain respectively via Diplomatic means, and deposited the funds with security companies



All that is needed now from you, is for you to agree to help my client then I shall give you vivid details as in the power Attorney making you as the beneficiary to the funds with any of the security companies you will wish to be able to go to for the clams of the funds.



My client has agreed to remunerate anybody willing to assist 30% of the total sum. But most of all is that I solicit your trust in this transaction I know this sounds too good to be true, but believe me , you shall not in anyway be expossed to danger or ridiculed because the continued existence of my clints family solely depends on ensuring that I get a partner who will truely assist them in securing the money in safe hands before it is been discovered and confisticated by the Authorities of Chile.



If you do indicate your interest in this proposal, you can reach me or that of me colleagues with the telephone numbers given above. But for now I will advise you to contact me through my personal email address for confidential reasons which is also indicated above.



Kindly include your private telephone and fax numbers / office, where you can always be reached if you are in the need to help to enable me send detail information/documents to you.



Once more, I will appreciate you keep this information and transaction strictly confidential even if you are not interested to save my client.


Kindest regards,
DR EDWARD SMITH

ATTORNEY/LEGAL ASSOCIATES.


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