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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: "barri_james" <barri_james@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 07:55:27 -0600
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,


I am Barrister.James Wetauba jr, and I am contacting you on a business
transfer of a huge sum of money from adeceased account. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you thatall will be well at the end of the
day. I decided to contact you due tothe urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION;

I discovered anabandoned sum of US$10,500,000.00 (Ten million five
hundred thousandunited states dollars) in an account that belongs to one of
my client who is a foreigner, he died along with his entire family.

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward
to lay claims for this money as the heir. The (bank) can not release the
fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin
to the deceased as indicated in their banking guidelines. Upon
this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to
my late client as all documentations will be carefully worked out by us
for the funds(US$10,500,000.00) to be released in your favour as
the beneficiary's next of kin.

It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an
order of mandam us to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries.Please
acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business
endeavour by furnishing me with thefollowing;

1. Beneficiary name and address
2. Direct Telephoneand fax numbers

These requirements will enable us file letter of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer
can be made. I shall be compensating you with a One million five hundred
thousand dollars(1.5million dollars) on finalconclusion of this
project, while the rest shall be for us forinvestment purposes in your country
that you will propose to me.


If this proposal is acceptable by you, do take advantage of
this opportunity, by replying me on this mail address:barri_james@sify.com


Please reply as soon as possible.

Regards,
Barr.James Wetauba jr

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