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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: steve@goags.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:49:14 -700
Subject: Immediate Inheritance (You Are The Next Of Kin ) Reply


Heinze Winter & Associates
Abrogates José Ortega y Gusset
37- 1°- B 28006 Madrid Spain.
Email: heinzewinter@hotmail.com

Complement of the day. I am a solicitor at law. I am the personal Counsel
to Mr. Marvin citizen of your country, who was the chairman of a
multinational company here in Spain. Before his death on the 11th of march
2005, my client ,his wife and their two children were killed by bomb blast
through a terrorist attack in Madrid train station, all the occupants of
the coach were killed. My client {Marvin} deposited the sum of 15.3
million Euro in PRIME BANK here in Spain, for himself, with the hope of
transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave.

Since his death, I have made several inquiries through his Embassy to
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family
hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the
money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Most
importantly, the bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the money confiscated within the next fourteen official working days,
since I have been unsuccessfully in locating his relatives.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name, so that the money deposited in the
account valued at 15.3 million Euro will be claimed by you and then you
and I can share the money,because leaving it there would mean that the
Bank would take control of 60% goes to you. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. However please bear in mind that time is of great
importance.

Please get in touch with me through my email to enable us discuss further.

Best regards.
Heinze Winter Esq



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