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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: "Mr. Bernard York" <helen.don@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: bernardyork02@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 19:29:55 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Reply me.


Attention: Sir / Madam,
 
I am Mr. Bernard York. (Esq) From Abidjan Cote D’ Ivoire, a personal financial adviser to Late Mr. Raymond
 
In my files I discovered that my client late Mr. Raymond abandoned sum of US$12.5 Million (Twelve million Five Hundred Thousand United states Dollars) in a Bank here Abidjan  Côte D'Ivoire. On a record before my Chamber I was made to know that on the 24th April  2009, he and his family were involved in a car accident along Kumasi-Aburi Express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace you to execute this project in retrieving the fund from the Bank base in the sense that every necessary documentation of this fund is with me as his personal financial adviser.
 
Since I got information about his death, my Chamber has been expecting any of his relative to come over and make claim of this money which is currently deposited in a Bank here because the Bank here in Abidjan Côte D'Ivoire where the fund is deposited cannot release it directly to me or any other person unless somebody applies for the release of it as next of kin or relative to the deceased as indicated in mutual agreement (Between the Deceased and the Bank) unfortunately his supposed next of kin died along with him at the Fatal auto crash.
 
It therefore upon discovery the ugly news that I now decided to make business with you to direct you on how to apply with this Chamber to the Bank to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank. The request of a foreigner as next of kin or relative in this business is occasioned by the fact that my customer was a foreigner and the next of kin died been the wife died alongside with him and also a citizen of Côte D'Ivoire Abidjan cannot stand as next of kin or relative to a foreigner.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I seek your consent to present you as the relative of the deceased to lay our claim to the Bank with legal prove I have in my file as his financier legal adviser so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$12.5 million can be paid to you and then you and l can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you.
 
All I require is your honest cooperation 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.
 
Thanks
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Bernard York. (Esq) 
(+ 225-6628-2306 )

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