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: "P H" <pl_hrdn111@msn.com>
Reply-To: paul_harden111@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 02:58:20 +0000
Subject: I need your Assistance Pls.

Paul Harden & Co
Swan Centre, Fishers Lane
Chiswick London, W4 1RX. UK.

Attn: President / CEO
With great pleasure I am writing this proposal on behalf of my chambers. I
got your information through my personal search on the internet, hence I
decided to seek your cooperation, due to the sensitivity of this transaction
and my commitment as a lawyer.
I am Barrister Paul Harden from UK, representing Mr. Martin Greenberg, a
foreigner, Engineer by profession, who he died since 1999, in an Egypt Air
crash, on the 31st October along with other passengers on board.

Before his death, he has a huge sum of (US$25.5) which no other person knew
about, which he intended to invest in Southern part of Africa. This fund has
NO other beneficiary and I have the original documents of Deposit and claim
the amount involved is (US$25.5M) Twenty Five Millions five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars. The fund is rigth now under the custody of a Security
Company, which I will not like to disclose at the moment until I confirm
your willingness to assist me in this project.
Early this year, the Security Company wrote me a letter, since I was his
lawyer, asking me to present his NEXT OF KIN, to enable them release the
said funds.
My constraint is to be able to source a foreign partner who is honest and
trustworthy individual, so that I can present to the Security Company as the
NEXT OF KIN of the Late Mr. Greenberg so that the fund can be release to
you.
If you will act as trustee and willing to assist me in this transaction,
your share as compensation will be (20% ), while I receives (70%) and the
balance of (10%) for taxes and other miscellaneous expenses. This
transaction is 100% risk free provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and
confidentiality and also with my position and a Barrister, I will perfect
all the necessary documents on your name as soon as you are ready to do this
deal with me.

Names, Address, Phone and Fax Numbers, Age, Sex, Marital Status and
Occupation.

Thank you and God Bless,
Barrister. Paul Harden
ATTORNEY -AT- LAW


--

Anti-fraud resources: