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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: "Barr.Michael Yenawa" <michaelyenawa9@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: michaelyenawa@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 03 Feb 2007 05:23:39 +0000
Subject: Compliment / Treat as urgent...

Yenawa Chambers & Associates,
229 Rue De La Justices,01 Bp 2262,
Cotonou Rep.Du Benin,
West Africa.
Telephone: 00 (229) 93 069 640.
 
 
Dear Piet, 
 
Good Day,
I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise and reading it will look like one of those letters we receive everyday on the internet.
 
I am Barrister Michael Yenawa, a solicitor at law and the personal attorney to Engr. P. D. Piet, a national of your country, international Gold and diamond dealer here in Cotonou Rep. Du Benin.
 
My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in a ill car fatal accident along Jakpa express road which all on board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives and friends but has been unsuccessful.
 
After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the internet, to see if I could locate member of his family, friends or any person beering the same last name, of particular interest was his proparties and huge deposit with a Fidiciary company, where the deceased has an access deposited box valued at $18.7 million and quantity of Gold dust.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over last 2 years now, I am seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are a foregner, so that both of us will stand for the claim then share the money according to agreed persentage. All I require is your honest, cooperation to enable us see this claim through.
 
I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. The last name does not matter again because I will fix your particulars in the file of my late client as his next of kin.
 
On your acceptance and willingness to assist me, feel free to ask any question.  Call to the above phone number.
 
Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Barr.Michael Yenawa.



The information in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. It is intended solely for the address. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and maybe unlawful.


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