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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: "MORRIS WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <morris01@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:03:03 -0700
Subject: PLEASE READ AND GET BACK TO ME''

FROM THE OFFICE OF
MORRIS WILLIAMS LAW CHAMBER
#12 OLD OJO ROAD AMUWO
LAGOS NIGERIA
TEL; 234 803823048
FAX; 234 805609056
Email: williamschamber115@live.com
 
Dear friend
I am sorry for the embarrassment this mail may cause you, as we have not met before. I am Morris Williams, a solicitor at law, I am thepersonal attorney to Engineer Frank Shaikh, a national of yourcountry, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Nigeria,hereinafter referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 1999, my client, his wife and their children were involved in a car accident along Kano -Sokoto express Road while arriving from Easter Holiday to Warri Delta State.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since thenI have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of myclient's extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. I came across your name and contact, while I was searching for Frank'srelations. Since my search was unsuccessful, I decided to contact youfor this project.
I am contacting you to assist in repatriating themoney left behind by my client before they bank/my government confiscated The fund valued $12 Million United States Dollars, last year the bank issued me a 12months notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the fund confiscated, and this ultimatum expires by next month.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over twoyears now, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of thedeceased since you have the same nationality so that the proceed ofthis deposit valued at USD12 Million can be released to you and then you and I can share the money, 60% for me 30% for you, and the remaining 10% will be for expenses and tax.
 
He made the money in one of the Oil deals he had with our Oil Minister. I also have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see thisbusiness through. I guarantee that this will be executed under alegitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Get back to me if you are interested in this deal.
Regards,
Barr Morris Williams
 
 

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