joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: Bill Trust <barrbilltrust1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrbilltrust@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:13:21 +0000
Subject: Golden Opportunity...please, lets work together.






FROM THE OFFICE 0F:

Bill Trust UK Solicitor
Kings Court 12 King StreetLeeds LS1 2HL DX: 12051 Leeds 24 U.K

Dear Partner,
Please, do not be offended to read this email from me as i never solicited your consent before sending it to you.
I am Messrs Bill Trust. I am the personal attorney to the late Mr. Mick Phillips an American Merchant in London United Kingdom. I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us.

I am contacting you with respect to inherit a portfolio amounting to $35,520,000USD (Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollar) deposited by a American Merchant named Mr. Mick Phillips.

On the 18th of October 2002, Mr. Mick Phillips deposited $12,000,000 USD(Twelve Million United States Dollars) with Barclays Bank under our portfolio management department for four years and the deposit matured on the 18th of October 2006 with over 196% growth which amounted to a total of $35,520,000 USD(Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollar).The account has been dormant and unclaimed due to unavailability of a next of kin/relation to claim his money.
Mr. Mick Phillips, has since passed away without stating his next of kin because he deposited the funds with Barclays Bank in our establishment at a point he was finalizing divorcing his wife and had no kids coupled with the fact that he was an orphan, this funds has since mature and the roll-over on the funds has also expired.This sum of $35,520,000 USD (Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred and TwentyThousand United States Dollar) is still in Barclays Bank lifeless and unnoticed because there will never be a claim on the funds and all material and immaterial documents and certificates relating to the funds is also in my possession.

According to the banking law and guidelines here in london, stipulates that at the expiration of six (6) years such funds will be revert to the ownership of the Government for financing military operations, such as purchasing of arms and ammunitions for the military. In order to avert this negative development.

I will like to seek for your permission as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. Mick Phillips so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not be use for financing weapons which will further enhance the courses of war in the world in general. Since, It is not compulsory that the next-of-kin/relation must be a blood relation to the deceased.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 30% for you as gratification for assistance rendered and the balance of 5% for will be responsible for the major /trivial expenses incurred if any during the course of the transfer, while 5% will be given to any Orphanage home in your country. Thereafter, I will visit your country for sharing according to the percentage indicated.There is no risk at all as all the paper work for this project will be done by me and with my position as solicitor guarantees the successful execution of this project. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with further information's and modalities that will help you understand the transaction.

You should observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this project would be most profitable for both parties because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Please reply immediately with your full details as follows:

1 ) Your full name
2 ) Your contact address
3 ) Your private telephone and fax numbers for easy communication
4 ) Your age and occupation.

On receipt of your response with your full details, I will file a claim on your behalf as beneficiary to the fund.

Awaiting your prompt reply.

God Bless You,
Messrs Bill Trust
(UK Solicitor)
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy!
http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us

Anti-fraud resources: