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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: Barrister Paul Gangsei <paulgangsei@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: gangseipaul_yahoo.com@vmx70.multikabel.net
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:05:33 +0100
Subject: Hello


Hello,
I am Barrister Paul Gangsei, a partner at Davies Chambers. I was Solicitor and personal attorney to Mr Robert Coleman, who died with his wife and Two Children on their way to Killynether-Wood, Ireland.
Since they died, several enquiries had been made to locate my clients extended relatives to no avail, I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance firm where this huge deposit was lodged.
The firm where the deceased had an account valued at $13.500,000,00 ( Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand USD) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 21 working/ business days.
Since I have not been successful in locating any of my late client's relative, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceed of this account will be paid out to you. I have all the legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, all I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please, you can reply through this email: paulgangsei@davieschamber.com
Regards,
Paul Gangsei.

Anti-fraud resources: