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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: "Micheal Thomas" <barr_tomasuk01@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 16:36:02 +0000
Subject: With Due Respect...

               Micheal  Thomas & Co

                         (Notary Public & Legal Pratitioner)

     1132 East street, W13 WB4, London,United   Kingdom.          

This letter is exclusively directed at you because of the integrity associated with you via the internet .I detect it must come to you as a bolt from the blue, non-the-less it is well intentioned. I am compelled to judge that you are indeed to be trusted, and will have a commitment to discharge as required the obligation of the deal to be explained below.

Let me start by introducing my humble self to you: I am known and called Barrister Micheal Thomas, a Notary Public and Legal Practitioner of about twenty-four years experience and the Principal Partner in the above named law firm.  I am the Legal Representative of Mr. Dexter, a native of your country with vast business interest in the petroleum sector in my country United Kingdom, who died along side with his wife Elizabeth and two kids Philip and rose girl in the hurricane Katrina disaster in in the month of august 2005, America. When he went on vacation holiday with his lovely family. This hurricane disaster was covered by different mass media of the world including the CNN. Give pleasure to glance through the site below for more information regarding the death of my late client.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4567442.stm 

It may interest you to note that my deceased client left a very substantial amount of money in a domiciliary account with the Nat West Bank here in my country United Kingdom. The amount standing deposited by my client is as stated below; the sum of Ten million, five hundred and eighty five thousand British Pounds (E10, 585,000.00). So far so good the condition for payment is subject to prove of relationship either as a blood relation or any person whom is of the same state with the deceased.

Having examined the reality before me and the extraordinary fact that my client does not have any member of his family around to lay claim to the abovementioned; it became imperative for me to avail us the opportunity to make venture in the direction of making the above sums of money ours. Where you are relevant in this context is that- your attention is needed as a next of kin to the deceased in order to facilitate the claim with reference to the funds to be wired into your account. You must draw attention to this claim otherwise the money will be lost. I Being the legal representative of my late client, all documentation to give validity or otherwise to the claim by you will be forwarded as will be requested before the claims shall be effected. I am in the position to carry out all such requests.

Please be informed that the above is totally risk free as nobody except my humble self is conscious of the     existence of such money and the facts as there are.

If upon thoughtfulness of the above you are convinced beyond logical doubt about the legitimacy of the discourse so far made, you may forward to me your true name and telephone number, so that I can contact you with a view to putting the position of things accurately.

Meanwhile, do not hesitate to make recourse to me where there are grey areas that have need of additional explanation. I trust you shall as a matter of fact allow confidentiality and sincerity of purpose to guide us in this superior walk towards greater wealth and please do not betray me when the money is wired into your account. Also as a matter of fact i need your trust and sincerity for us to achieve this great goal. Note: all questions regarding the authenticity of the above shall be answered if asked. I am glad to put in the picture that you have a lot to benefit, if you endeavor into this deal. Details of the benefit shall be made known to you if you show interest and pledge aimed at realizing the deal. The choice is yours to act. 

Also note that, this is a fundamental matter that requires urgent attention.

Thanks and in regards,

Barrister Micheal Thomas.

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