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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: frankrobinson1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:41:18 -0700
Subject: FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION


FRANK ROBINSON(ESQ)
EMAIL: frankrobinson1@hotmail.com
Good day Friend. My name is Barrister Frank
Robinson,Esq.,the legal adviser to the Bembela family of
Zimbabwe. I have just relocated to the united kingdom in
order to avoid persecution, and for the safety of my life
and family.Since my relocation,I have been trying to get
someone competent and trustworthy to help me secure a lot
of money belonging to my late client, Mr. Richard Bembela.

My late client,Richard Bembela, was a very successful
farmer and gold merchant in Zimbabwe. All
was well until president Mugabe gave an instruction that
all the foreign farmers in the country should vacate their
farmland and go back to their home country. But my client,
due to what he has invested in Zimbabwe and, also on his
farm refused to leave the country. He was subsequently
arrested,and all his properties were seized by the
Zimbabwean Government. He later died in detention. All
efforts made by his friend, Mr. Larry Miller,the Zimbabwean
former Minister for Agriculture and his wife, Mrs. Rebecca
Bembela, who is also a Zimbabwean citizen to release him,was
to no avail,until his untimely death in detention.
His wife, Mrs. Rebecca Bembela knowing fully well the
gravity of her husband's case came to
me with a certificate of deposit that her husband, Mr.
Richard Bembela used in depositing $27,500,000.00USD.(Twenty
Seven Million, Five hundred Thousand United States
Dollars)in Barclays Bank, United kingdom.I had to leave the
country immediately because shortly after she brought all
the necessary documentation regarding the funds to me,she
was arrested.I now live in the United Kingdom. I will need
our honest and true assistance to act as the next of kin to
Mr. Richard Bembela. I will let you know all the necessary
steps to take to secure the funds from the bank into any
nominated account of yours in due course.
I will contact you with what is required of you once your
interest is signified, after which I will give you the full
bank details.Please be aware that this is a serious and
legal business, and please don’t waste my time.
All you need do now is to get back to me stating your
interest in helping me and the Bembela family in this
transaction.
Once I hear from you, we shall proceed immediately with the
transaction. Please, contact me via the above email
address.
Respectfully Yours,
Frank Robinson,Esq.


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