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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: JAMES HOURIGAN <jfhourigan_3@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:11:24 +0200
Subject: URGENT

Dear Sir/Madam,

With warm hearts I offer my friendship and my greetings, and I hope this letter meets you in good time. However, I am sincerely seeking your confidence in this transaction, which I propose with my free mind and as a person of integrity.
I got your contact as a result of my discreet search for an associate who can help Me. I know this letter must come to you as a surprise, more so that we have not met before.
My name is Mr. J. Hourigan a South African citizen and a Finacial Consultant with a Finance and Investment Firm based in South Africa. Our primary aim is to secure our clients funds and to ensure that it is wisely invested in safe and non speculative projects that would yield maximum returns and less tax.
In all instances, Most of our client may request some confidentiality especially if they are serving or retired public servants as is the case with this client of ours who happened to share the same family name with you, died in Indonesia as a result of the Tsunami disaster while on a business trip. Our client died without any WILL and till date nobody has been able to locate any of his relatives despite several inquiries. The deceased had an asset account valued at Twenty million, five hundred thousand (USD$20.5m) United States Dollars.
Unfortunately this man has no WILL as to his inheritance in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Company has made every effort to trace his relatives over the Internet and locate any member of his family but to no avail.
The company has issued a notice of claim for the Next of Kin to come forward or the deposit would be reverted to the government. Since the Companys effort to locate any of his relative has been unsuccessful, thus seek your consent to present you as the NEXT OF KIN.  This proceeds valued at USD$20.5 Million Dollars will be paid to you and 10% will be donated to the orphanage, instead of forfeiting it to the government.You will be entitled to a commission we shall both agree on.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTELY RISK FREE, as all legal and necessary documents to back up your claims as the Next of Kin will be procured on your behalf through the Probate office here in South Africa.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and my self who is the architect of the transaction.  Also I will appreciate you forward to me your phone number for more discussion.

Visit the websit below for more information about the Tsunami disaster
www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/29/asia.quake/index.html

I await your urgent response

Best regards,
J. Hourigan.

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