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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: john assou <barr_johnassoutg@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:22:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM JOHN ASSOU


Barrister John
Assou&Associates
No 16 Boulevard du la Kara
Lome-Togo


Dear Elien Tenhage,

I am Barrister John Assou personal attorney to the late Patrick Tenhage,a foreign construction engineer who was a resident here in Lome Togo.

My client died with his family while on Vacation at Phuket Island in Thailand in December 2004. Asia Earth Quake Disaster(TSUNAMI DISASTER)
On the 6th of January 2005,I recieved a phone call as his personal Attorney which broke the tragic news of my clients death in the Tsunami disaster. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of his extended relatives.

This has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you hence I know that you bears the same surname with him. I seek your consent and assistance in repartriating money left behind by him before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank. The deposit is valued US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) and it is lodged with Bank.

The Bank has issued me an ultimatum to present the next-of-kin of the deceased to inherit the funds or have the account declared unserviceable. I here by seek your consent to present you to the Bank as next-of-kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued US$10,500,000.00 can be transferred to you as inheritance, and thereafter you and me will share the money, while part of it will be donated to Charity Fund.

I have necessary legal information which in legal terms are surposed to be known by me and this will I relate to you to support the claim of the inheritance from the Bank. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the transaction through. I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Thank you.
Barrister John
Assou&Associates
No 16 Boulevard du la Kara
Lome-Togo



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