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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: "Paul Smith" <paulsmith1950@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 11:09:15 -0700
Subject: COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON(URGENT)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mr Paul Smith, the personal accounting officer to a national of
your country, who worked with shell development company in West Africa. Here
in after shall be referred toas my client.

On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife And 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 to locate any of my clients extended
relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his
surname over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted
you.
I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property
left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly,the EcoBank International, where the deceased had an
account valued at about 7.5million dollars has issued me a notice as his
accounting officer to provide the next of kin or have the account
confisicated
within the next ten official working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in
locating the relatives for over 1 years now i seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same
surname
so that the proceeds of this account valued at 7.5million dollars can
be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.

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 see
this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Send me the following information :

1,Your Full names :
2, Your Private secured telephone number:
3,Your occupation :
4, Your Office address or home address :

Thanks and God Bless

Best Regards.

MR PAUL SMITH
Email:smpaul_11@yahoo.dk


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