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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: "MARK LAWRANCE" <barristermarklawrance@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:44:22 +0100
Subject: Your Information


Dear Loranna Frank ,

How are you today? I trust you are ok. Your mail was well gone
through. And i' m writting you regarding this transaction, I want you
to know that this transaction is legitimate and 100% risk free, as i
have the necessary legal document to back up any claim we make.

I HAVE ATTACHED MY ID CARD AND MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

It may interest you to know that choosen you to handle this
transaction is a great privilege, because for so many yrs, my client
Mrs Tatiana have been searching for who to inherit this said money.

So as it is now, whoever i present to the security company where the
money is deposited authomatically becomes the next of kin and the
beneficiary of the said money.


This is why i have contacted you to present you as the next of kin so
that this money can be paid to you and you use it wisley according to
my client

All i require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this
transaction through, and i guarantee you that this would be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any breach
of law, also I am given you 100% guarantee and assurance that this
transaction will be completed within the next 14 bank working days
based on your adherance to my directives in this business and PLEASE
THIS MATTER REMAINS VERY CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN YOU AND ME SO THAT WE
WILL NOT JEOPARDISE THE SUCEESS THERE-OF.

The most important thing in this business is our Honesty, Total
Commitment, Trustworthy and our Maximum Co-operation which will ensure
the success of this transaction.

So therefore kindly forward your information so that i can have it
submitted to the HSBC Security Company as soon as possible. And note
that we don't have much time on this divine project because of my
client health.

Dear Loranna Frank, i will proceed immediately to the ministries here
in UK to secure all the neccessary legal documents in your favour,and
i will also proceed to the bank to submitt an application of claim on
your behalf.

Y ou are to forward the following information of yourself immediately
to me,so that i can have it submitted alongside applicartion of claim
to the bank.
The informations are:

1, Your full names
2,Your contact address
3,Your occupation
4,Your age
5,Your phone and fax number

As soon as i get these information,i will quickly proceed and submit
to bank,as the next of kin to my late client.
I awaits your affirmative response as soon as possible

Here is my information you requested for

My address and phone information.
Forename: Mark
Last name: Lawrance
Occupation: Lawyer
Cellular phone: +44-701-113-0126
Home address: 61 Grantbrook Ridge Close, Southampton, SO8 6TM, United
Kingdom


Hope to hear from you soonest

Best regards
Barr Mark Lawrance, Esq

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