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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: "Tony Williams" <tonywilliams4usj@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 05:18:13 -0900
Subject: FROM TONY WILLIAMS

PLEASE FOR SECURITY REASONS REPLY ON THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS:(williamstony4us@yahoo.it)

FROM TONY WILLIAMS:

I am Barrister Tony Williams.. The Personal Attorney and Financial Advisor
to Mr. Morris Thompson an American who unfortunately lost his life in the
plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31, 2000
including his wife and only daughter. You shall read
more about the crash on visiting this website.
http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/mThompson.html

Since then I have made several enquiries to his Embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his
relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no
avail, hence I contacted you for your assistance.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind
by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this huge deposit were lodged with the ABSA BANK SOUTH AFRICA.
This is the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $USD15.5
million Dollars.
Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years
now.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since
you are not his relative so that the proceeds of this account valued at
$USD15.5 million Dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the
money.
However, I would like to add here that upon your acceptance to assist me in
this deal,
You will be rewarded with 35% of the total sum for your honest assistance
and co-operation,
5% for any expenses that may come up during the transfer while 60% remain
for me. We intend to affect the transfer within a few days from the date of
receipt of the following information:

1) Your name,
2) Company name,
3) Address,
4) Telephone and fax numbers.

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
seeing this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me to enable us discuss
further and send me your fax and telephone number.

Best regards,

Tony Williams

_________________________________________________________________
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