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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: barr_kofioke3@live.com
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:58:18 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Dear Friend


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: kofi.oke13@yahoo.in

Contact me immediately

- Dear Friend,I am Barrister Kofi Oke,a personal attorney to Mr.Michael Adams, who used to work with Inter Gold mining and Development Company in Accra, Ghana,Herein after shall be referred to as my client.On the 21st of August 2006, my client, his wife and their child were involved in a car accident along aflawo/accra express road.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track any foreigner to present as a member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Company where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the Trust Security & Finance Company,where the deceased had deposit valued at about 4.5 million dol!
lars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated after six months if not claimed and We have just few weeks ultimatum.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5 months now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are also a foreigner as my late client so that the proceeds of this amount valued at 4.5 million dollars can be released to you.I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we may make.All I require is your honest co-operation 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. Please get in touch with me through the above phone number +233-24-4832432 to enable us discuss further.I look forward to your urgent response.Best Regards,Barr.Kofi Oke


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