joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: barr.sambuthan raj <sambuth30@msn.com>
Reply-To: <barr.sambuthan1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:56:02 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend,



Dear Friend,

This mail will definitely come to you as a huge surprise, I must firstly apologise for this unsolicited proposal to you. I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a relationship, but as time goes on you will realize the need for my action. I am barrister Sambuthan Raj, Solicitor to Engr. John Walter, here in after shall be referred to as my client who died with his family in china earthquake 2006 why on holiday.

Before the death, he maintained a fixed deposit account, which I would like to present you as the next of kin, for the claim of this fund before it confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued USD$35.2 million dollars and they has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or the account will be confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD35.2 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal documents to back up the claim. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this project will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you as I have been his family lawyer for 15 years. I need below information to enable me file the necessary document for the claim with the bank.

1 Your Full Name............................

2 Your Age/Sex.......................................

3 Your Mobile and Home Phone Number..

4 Contact address

5 Your Occupation............................


Regards

Barr. Sambuthan raj




Anti-fraud resources: