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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: "FRANK WILLKERSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankwillkerson@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:07:07 +0100
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST

 
                                                                                       
 
 
    
 
I am FRANK WILLKERSON a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Lawyer tO a National of your Country, who has lived in United Kingdom for the past five years, and whom herein after shall be referred to as my client.
 
On the 25th April 2007, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a fatal car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives; my client was one of them. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security company where these huge deposits were lodged. The Security firm where the deceased had an account valued at US$ 6,000,000 Six million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 1 year now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name. The proceeds of this account valued at US$ 6,000,000 Six million dollars will be paid to you, as my clientÂ’s Next of Kin, and we will share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage. All legal documents to back up your claims as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided.
 
Please get in touch with me through my email address or phone below, to enable us discuss further about this transaction. Your utmost confidentiality is needed for the execution of this transaction 
  
 
Best Regards, 
  
 
Barrister FRANK WILLKERSON
 
 

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