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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: "simthmustaphalawfirm" <simthmustaphalawfirm@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 07:31:35 -0600
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSER


From the desk of :-
BARRISTER simth mustapha (esq)
(DIVINE CHAMBERS)
FIFTH FLOOR
NEW-APPLE HOUSE
LAGOS NIGERIA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister simth mustapha , a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Richard.N.Williams, a national of your country, who used to work with Ashland Oil Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria.

My client, his wife and their 4 children were involved in the recent TSUNAMI FLOOD DISASTER while on vacation . All members of the family unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy and many other embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

I decided to track down a reliable partner over the Internet, to locat any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund valued at US$21.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Bank has issued me a notice recently to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next twenty one official working days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives, hence I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since i am conviced beyond doubt that my late client has no existing relative, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please send your response to me to this private email (simth_mustapha_law_firm@yahoo.com)

Best regards,

Barr. simth mustapha

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