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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: SMITH ANDERSON <smithesq4@msn.com>
Reply-To: <smith_anderesqngr@live.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 15:53:24 +0000
Subject: READ VERY CAREFULLY



Good Day,


I am sorry for bothering you and please do not be surprised at this mail but I crave your indulgence to just give it fair attention to convince yourself.


I am Barr. Smith Anderson, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mark Sep, a foreigner who was an oil merchant here and used to work with Handebull Construction & Oil Services in Nigeria, hereinafter referred to as my client.


On the 6th of May, 2002 it was reported to us that my Client and his wife were involved in a Local Plane Crash at Kano State en route from sokoto to Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria), all
occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries like the former Nigeria Sports Minister and a host of others
.
Since then I have made several enquiries to the embassies here to locate any of my clients extended relations, these effort proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful
attempts, I decided to contact you after looking at your profile and believing we canwork together to actualize this dream, hence I contacted you and I feel it isby divine providence that I am contacting you in this matter.


I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$3.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank, where my late client
operated his account. The bank has since issued me a notice, to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated by their next board meeting.


For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives during these past period of time, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased and now that I have
finally located you, I honestly think it does not matter even if you are not related to my late client the MOST IMPORTANT thing is that you are INTERESTED to execute the matter with me and since he did not leave any record behind even at the bank, will have no problem to
convince the bank that you are related to him because it is better for you and me to claim this money than for the bank to seize it as unclaimed.


I will present you to the bank as a COUSIN to my late client and I will secure some necessary legal documents to back up this claim so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you,
instead of the bank confiscating the money. I feel the money will be more useful to you and me than the bank.


Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the modalities for transfer and I will give you the full details. I have all necessary information and have arranged
to process all the relevant legal documents needed to back you up for the claim.


All I require from you, 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 and as we progress, you will also have the opportunity to confirm directly from the bank about this deposit.


I will update you with more details as soon as I hear from you.


Respectfully,

Barrister Smith Anderson.

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