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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Anthony Williams" <anthony_williams01@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:51:27 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am barrister Anthony Williams, a solicitor at law and the personal
attorney to late (Mr Mark ) a national of your country, who used to be a
private contractor with the Shell Development Company in Nigeria, herein
after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2003, he and
his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident , all
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their 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 last nameto locate any
member of his family hence I contacted you. I have 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 these huge
deposits were lodged.

The deceased had an account valued at about $10 million US dollars and the
bank 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, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $10Million US dollars can be paid to you and then youand me can
share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require
is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction I guarantee
you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get intouch with me on this email anthonywills2003@yahoo.com


Best regards,
Barrister Anthony Williams



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