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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: donald lai <laidonald13@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: donaldlaiesq@netzero.net
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:46:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Treat as urgent.










>From the desk of Barr. Donald Lai,=20
Donald Lai & Associates=20
Date: 20/12/08=20

Attn:=A0Thomas John=A0=20

I am Donald Lai, an attorney at law .I am contacting you for a very rewardi=
ng deal if you will be interested to join me in its execution.=20

A deceased client of mine died as a result of the "Aceh, Indonesia Tsunami =
disaster" on the 26th December 2004 with members of his family. My proposit=
ion to you is seeking your assistance in distributing the money left behind=
by my late client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by th=
e bank where this deposit valued at Six million five hundred thousand US do=
llars($6,500,000:00)=A0was lodged.=20

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account=
will be confiscated. As to this, I am thus seeking your consent to present=
you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have =
the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you=
... Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.=20

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will b=
e provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this =
transaction through.=20
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you =
from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral=
values, do accept my apology.=20

I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgenc=
e to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, w=
hile I await your prompt response. Please do contact me at once to indicate=
your interest on my alternative email donaldlaiesq@netzero.net=20

Best regards,=20
Donald Lai (Esq).=20
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0
=A0

Disclaimer:=20
This communication, links contained herein, is for the sole use of the inte=
nded recipient and may contain information that is confidential or legally =
protected. =0A=0A=0A

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