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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: Barrister Collins Mark <collmark07@yahoo.ca>
Date: 9 Aug 2007 15:44:48 -0000
Subject: Unclaimed Estate

Content-Type: text/plain

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit




August 9, 2007



Dear Friend,



I am Barrister Collins Mark a solicitor at law and the personal attorney of your National, who owned a Casino Company in Togo and as well a one time secret agent in transferring of money overseas for the Late head of State of Togo (Late GNASSINGBE IYADEMA). On the 21st of December 2004, my client, his entire Family were involved in a boat mishap along Nouvissi Beach. All

occupants of the Boat unfortunately lost their lives. It happens that it was only him, the late Merchant and I who knows about the deposit. Now that he is late, all efforts to trace relatives have proved abortive by the Bank, hence my recourse to contact you before the claim becomes statute barred (Limitation of action Law) like the ones in Switzerland banks which most African leaders have recovered, since I am the only living soul who knows about it.



The Finance Company/Bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin as his attorney and since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives

for over two years, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the finance company/Bank since you have the same last name with him, so that

the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. I contact you to assist in repatriating these fund valued at US$10.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated.



Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for the claim and payment to you. I have all

necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for the claim.



All I need from you is your honest cooperation to enable us actualize this transaction through. I guarantee that this attracts no risk at all for it



will be executed under legitimate arrangements that will protect you and me from any breach of the law.



Upon your acceptance to this proposal, I suggest that you reply through email address, collins_mark008@yahoo.com for confidentiality of this

transaction. I expect your urgent response indicating your full interest and willingness in this great business transaction for our mutual benefit.



Your telephone and fax numbers will be needed for our easy communications.



Sincerely,



Barrister Collins Mark




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