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: Smith Smiller <smith_smiller0101@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 09:32:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear VICTIMNAME,


SMITH SMILLER & ASSOCIATES
KNOBLE CHAMBERS
SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES
321 AWOLOWO ROAD IKOYI
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Dear VICTIMNAME,

I am Barrister Smith Smiller, a Solicitor at Law. I am the personal attorney to Engr. Thomas VICTIMNAME, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Nigeria. Hereinafter referred to as "my client". On the 21st of April 2000, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries here to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After the several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$9.3 Million left behind by my client before it gets Confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited. The said bank has issued me with a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.

For the fact that I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I now seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, since you have the same last name with my client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and we share the proceeds at the rate of 50% to you and 50% to me.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall the modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information needed to back you up for this claim. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect both parties from any breach of the Laws of both Countries.

Best Regards,

Smith Smiller Esq.
PRINCIPAL PARTNER.


---------------------------------
Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.

Anti-fraud resources: