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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: "Attorney John Bowe" <barrjohnbowe@she.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:13:04 +0700
Subject: Treat as urgent Dear Trustee

Dear Friend
I am BARR. JOHN BOWE, a solicitor at law and personal attorney to ENG. PETER BOND, a national of your country who was the financial controller with an Oil Company here in NIGERIA. here in after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 20th of february 2002, my client, his wife And their only child were involved in a car accident along Basam express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to his country's embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives without Success. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name through the Net to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client since you are a foreigner before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
The Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about 12 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within within a specific time.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds of this account valued at 12 million dollars can be paid to you through the account that you will provide.
After the successful transfer, you will take 40% while 60% will be for me. I have made all necessary legal arrangements to back up our claims, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR FULL NAMES, ADDRESS, YOUR PRIVATE TEL/MOBILE/FAX
NUMBERS.
Best regards,
JOHN BOWE(Esq)


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