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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: "Thom Ronald" <thom_ronald1@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrthomronaldch@portugalmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 10:50:32 +0000
Subject: RE: REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS CO-OPERATION




Dear Sir / Madam ,

I have the courage to ask you to look for a reliable and honest person who
will be capable for
this important business believing that you will never let me down either now
or in future.

I am Barrister Thom Ronald ,the legal adviser to late Mr. Williams & the
wife , British couple
that lived here in London for 25 years before they both died bomb explosion
back in Liverpool
London last year .

I seek your coperation in securing a certain amount of money left in British
bank by a
Britsh/German ,who died a couple of months on bomb explosion back in
Liverpool London . I am his
lawyer and I know every details concerning this funds , totalling Nine
million , Eight hundred
thousand British Pounds GBP9.8 Million )

The late Mr. Williams has been my client for over ten years . All I need is
your unresolved
consent to affix your name as the Next Of kin to this account as the bank
has already been
notified of his death .

I seek a trusted person with the same name.

I shall disclose every pertinent details concerning this transaction as soon
as I receive a go
ahead from you .

I believe in God that you will never let me down in this business,you are
the only person that I
have contacted in this business, so please reply urgently so that i will
inform you the next step
to take urgently.

if you are able and with capability to handle such amount in strict
confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual
benefit because this opportunity will
never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make mistake
I need your strong
assurance and trust.

I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we recieve this
money leaving no trace to
any place.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 40% of the total
amount , 55 % will be for
me, while 5% will be set aside for expenses both parties might have incured
during the process of
transfering.

And send to my attention the following information of yours to begin the
transaction .

1. Your full names

2. Your full address.

3. Your phone and fax numbers including mobile phone if any.

I look forward to your earliest reply by email.

yours truly,

Barrister Thom Ronald .


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