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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: "Desmond James" <desmondjames@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: bar_desmonnd_james@yahoo.pl
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 09:13:13 -0700
Subject: DEAR TRUSTED FRIEND


*FROM: BARRISTER DESMOND JAMES (ESQ)`*
* DESMOND & JAMES ASSOCIATES,*
*SECTARY GENERAL BRITISH COUNCIL OF THE BARR, *
*4 Albert Embankments, London SE1 7SR,United Kingdom. *

*ATTENTION, DEAR TRUSTED FRIEND*


*I am making this contact to you on the fact that we may be of assistance
to each other in developing a long lasting cordial business relationship,
if you put your trust in God that this will work out further benefit of my
own family and yours. I was moved by my personal inspiration to entrust on
your sincerity to handle a business,

I am Barrister Desmond James. I have a client Mr. Mark, who bears this
same last name with you, a foreigner who used to work with Mekon Associates
Company here in London.*


*On the 2nd of August 2005, my client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Manchester **Express Road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have
made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's 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 got confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Finance House where these huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at
about US$6.5M 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 1 year
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 US$6.5M can be paid to you
and then you and I can share the money; 50% to me and 50% to you,

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim
we may make, all I require is your honest co-operation 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; you acknowledge the good receipt of this
message.
Anticipating your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

BARR.DESMOND JAMES (ESQ).
Attorney At Law UK
Secretary General British
Council Of The Barristers.*

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