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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: =?big5?q?Martins=20James?= <barr.jemartins1@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: barr.jmartins@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:24:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Barrister James Martins


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gbarr.jemartins1@yahoo.com.hk



- Dear Friend, I am Barrister James Martins the Personal Attorney and legal adviser to Mr. Graham,a foreigner resident here in Nigeria, he is an oil consultant/contractor with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).On The 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Before he died, he did a contract of US$20,000,000 (Twenty million Dollars) which is yet to be paid before his death. And i have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the world trade directory, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you. My contact to you is to assist me in claiming the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Particularly, Central Bank of Nigeria has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to my client, Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, so pls I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of my late client. All I require is to be trusthworthy to me that when you get all the money in your care that you won't go away with it,And moreso your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through, I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. As i'll prepare all the necesary document in your name as the beneficiary to my late client and I will send you his company document and Contract Certificates. Please indicate your full interest and willingness to receive the fund by sending to me your direct telephone and fax numbers for easy Communication, your full name and address are also needed. Please reply me thru this email barr.jmartins@gmail.com for any question and more detials or for your urgent respond. Hope to hear from you soon. Best regards, Barrister James Martins


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