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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: BARRISTER THOMAS COLE <thomascole1314@yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Apr 2007 15:12:27 +0400
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY NEEDED

Content-Type: text/plain

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit




Thomas Cole & CO.

Barrister & Solicitors,

Coles Chambers,

Suite 6, 3rd Floor,

118 Lord Lurgard Street, Lagos Island.

P.O.Box 75519,

Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.



Hello sir/madam,



Before I start, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to

you.I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to

establishing a relationship, but you will realize the reason for my action

after going through this email.

I am Barrister Thomas Cole, a solicitor at law. I am the personal

attorney to Late Richard Burson. I got your impressive information after a

Conscious search for a reliable and matured mind that has all it Takes

to execute this project. I was elated when I saw your address, and I

picked a keen interest with confidence to solicit for your help in

executing this opportunity. However, I was moved to contact you based on the

present situation of this opportunity, which I may say, is a God given

offer.

There was a foreigner who lived here in NIGERIA some time ago; he is

called Richard Burson by name, until his death. I was his Personal

Attorney, unfortunately Mark Robinson Trip died with his wife and their two

kids in a Local Plane Crash at Kano State, which enroute from sokoto to

Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria), all occupants in the Plane lost

their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries

like the former Nigeria Sports Minister and a host of others.

The following websites could be referenced: Please go through the

website.

http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm

Owing to his death, his bank called on me for a meeting as regards his

Account Balance with the bank, being h is attorney till the time of his

death, I was told to come up with any of his relatives to come and

claim the money, I tried all I could to trace his family, but all my

efforts proved abortive.

Since January this year till date, the bank has been asking me to look

for his family because they realize that a lot of people have been

trying to claim the money as his next of kin, but after verification, It is

found out that those people are not really his next of kin, because

they cannot provide any legal evidence to prove that they are his

relative.Hence, I have decided to use you as his next of kin to claim the money

as it happens that none of his relatives will ever appear to claim the

funds, besides I have all his documented memo in my possession, which

will back you up before the bank as his next of kin .

I have the logistics to make your name to be that you are the rightful

next of kin to the deceased and as well as the beneficiary of the

funds. The amount involved is $US28.5Million Dollars. As regards to that, I

will like you to furnish me with the following information, which I

will use to secure the legal documents.

(1). FULL NAMES

(2). COMPLETE CONTACT ADDRESS

(3). CONTACT PHONE NUMBER

(4). FAX NUMBER

(5). OCCUPATION

(6). AGE

(7). Sex

As soon as I receive your information, I will forward an application

for account closures to which you will submit to the concerned bank as

his next of kin. Be rest assured that, there is no risk involved as I

have perfected and made the necessary arrangements to back you up in

claiming the funds. I will want you to regard this deal as being highly

confidential because this business as transaction demands a high level of

secrecy as the bank does not know that I am involved in the deal.if

interested in the transaction and to enable me feed you with more

information, then do all you can to furnish me with all the needed informations

stated above.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation as I await your reply. Reply

through my alternative email:thomascole4003@yahoo.it

Best Regards,

Thomas Cole Esq.





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