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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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Fraud email example:

From: "paul coli" <debra_banker@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 01:04:24 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSITANCE FROM BARRISTER COLLI

BARRISTER JONES BENJAMIN(esq)
(PROVIDENCE CHAMBERS)
FIFTH FLOOR
NEW-ARK HOUSE
LAGOS.
PRIVATE EMIL: DEBRA_COLLI@MAKTOOB.COM


Dear Friend ,

I am Barrister debra Benjamin, a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to a National of my country, who used to work with Ashland Oil
Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria.

Just ealier this year, my client, his wife and their 4 children were
involved in the recent TSUNAMI FLOOD DISASTER while on vacation . All
members of the family 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.

I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locat any member of
his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in
recovering the fund valued at US$15.5 million left behind by my client
before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this
huge amount were deposited.

The said Bank has issued me a notice recently to provide the next of kin or
have the account confisicated within the next twenty one official working
days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives, hence I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you
have the same names resemblance, 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.

Best regards,

Barr. Debra

Nb: If however you are not interested to help, please feel free to destroy
this information as I will continue to scout


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