joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "mike obi" <mikeobi_7@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 23:46:24 +0000
Subject: Next Of Kin

FROM:BARRISTER MIKE OBI
MIKE OBI AND ASSOCIATE,
PUBLIC NOTARY,SOLICITORS & ADVOCATE.
LAGOS - NIGERIA.
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

Dear friend.

I am Barrister MIKE OBI,Solicitor and Advocate at
Law.I am the
personal Lawyer to Late Engr.T. a citizen of your
Country,Working in an
oil servicing company In NIGERIA.Referred to as my client
On April 21, 2000 my client, his wife,and their three
children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu
express way.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives.Since
then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to
locate any of my
clients extended elatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
trace his last
name over the Internet.I have contacted you to assist in
repatriating the
money and property left behind by my late client before
they Get confiscated
or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge
deposits were lodged,
particularly the FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. Where the
deceased had an account Valued at about(US$16.4million
dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the
Next of Kin. Or have the account confiscated within the
next ten official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives
for over 2 years now,Due to your Name is similar to my
Client Name,I decide to seek your consent to Present you as
the Next Of Kin,of the deceased,So that this account valued
at (US$16.4 million dollars) can be paid to you and then
You and Me Can share the money. 55% to Me and 40% to You
while 5% for any expenses.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 and Me,from any breach of the law.pls
i want you to reply me this email on my private email
box,mikeobi99@yahoo.com
Good bless you and your family.

YOURS SINCERELY,

BARR.MIKE OBI.


Anti-fraud resources: