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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Marcel Lucky <marcel.lucky3@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 07:09:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear......Frits Einar Mahr




From Marcel's Chambers (ESQ)=20
15 RUE DES COMMERCE
=A0QUARTIER NYEKONAPKOE
Tel:00228 093 8468
=A0 Lome-Togo=20
=A0
Attn: Frits Einar Mahr=20

With due regards,I am Barrister Marcel Lucky(ESQ), a solicitor at law,perso=
nal attorney to Eng.B.Mahr=A0 (Snr) who used to work with Shell Development=
Company in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On =
the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only daughter were in=
volved in a gastly car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants =
of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.=20
=A0
Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any=
of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful. After =
these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name over t=
he foreing commision guestbook, to locate any member of his family hence I =
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valu=
ed at USD$28.5 million left behind by my client before it get confisicated =
or declared unserviceable by the bank here in Lome-Togo,where this huge amo=
unt were deposited.! And now the bank has issued me a notice to provide the=
next of kin or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one of=
ficial working days.=20
=A0
Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2years no=
w, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased sin=
ce you have the same last names,so that the proceeds of=A0 this account can=
be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall =
then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all nece=
ssary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All =
I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transac=
tion through.=20
=A0
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that wi=
ll protect you from any breach of the law.=A0 Please get in touch with me t=
hrough the above email or through my direct phone number=A0 for more detail=
s. urgent responce to this letter will be proudly appreciated. Best Regards=
..
=A0
=A0 Barrister Marcel Lucky.(ESQ)
=0A=0A=0A

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