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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: "Mr.John Igodo" <johnigodo1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <johnigodo@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:37:00 +0100
Subject: FROM:BARRISTER JOHN IGODO



FROM:BARRISTER JOHN IGODOJOHN-IGODO AND ASSOCIATE,PUBLIC NOTARY,SOLICITORS & ADVOCATE.N0: 445 APAPA ROAD LAGOS - NIGERIA.Dear Next of Kin,It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in the context stated below I am Barrister John Igodo ,the Personal Attorney to Mr,Frank Haswell ,A foreigner who used to work with Mekon Associates company in Nigeria. On May 4th 2002, Air Crash in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, my client, his wife and their three children were involved.www.wsws.org/articles/2002/may2002/nige-m07.shtmlKilling at least 148 people. The Nigerian Red Cross said that a minimum of 148 bodies had been recovered, with 49 people seriously injured Since then I have made several enquiries to many embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit werelodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about 15 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require, I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, If you are interested please send the following information.{1}. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS{2}. YOUR FULL NAME{3}. YOUR AGE AND YOUR OCCUPATION.{4}. YOUR IDENTIFICATION.{5}.YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER.All I require is your honest cooperation 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 get in touch with me to enable us discuss further.Best Regards.Barrister John Igodo (Esq)
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