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: clinton athur <athurclinton_associates@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:55:25 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL


ATHUR CLINTON(ESQ)
CLINTON $ ASSOSCIATES,
25 Markham Street
London SW3 3NR United Kingdom.
Sir,
I am Athur Clinton, the personal Attorney to a foreigner who has a Vehicle tradiing Company in London. On the 6th of january 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express Road.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over
the internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance/Security Company where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at about US$15.5[Fifteen million and five hundred thousand united states dollar] has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within the next 14 official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives since after my client's death
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at fifteen million and five hundred united states dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money; 70% to me and 30% 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 through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.
Anticipating your prompt response.
Yours Sincerely,
ATHUR CLINTON (ESQ)
CLINTON $ ASSOSCIATES
N.B.You should reply me through my alternative email address;
blvone@yahoo.co.uk

---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo.

---------------------------------
Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail

Anti-fraud resources: