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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: "Barrister Victor J. Zanolli" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wcolgate1001001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:56:44 +0100
Subject: Law Office of: Victor J. Zanolli

Law Office of: Victor J. Zanolli
29777 Telegraph Road, Suite 2500
Southfield, MI 48034
USA.

Dear Friend,

With great pleasure I am writing this proposal on behalf of my associates. I got your information through my personal search on the internet, hence I decided to seek your cooperation, due to the sensitivity of this transaction and my commitment as an Attorney.

I am Barrister Victor J. Zanolli personal Attorney to Margaret D. Smith, an American, who unfortunately lost his life and that of his relative in the single-engine plane, a Cirrus SR22 which crashed on July 5, 2010 11:57 pm US/Easter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this website.

http://wcbstv.com/local/plane.crash.fairfield.2.1789008.html

Before his death, he has a huge sum of (US$18 Million) which no other person know about. Unfortunately, the finance company, gave me an ultimatum of ten working days to provide the next of Kin or have this fund confiscated, Consequently the Finance company mandated me to look out for any of his extended family relatives to stand in as the next of kin/beneficiary of this fund deposit. This is why I have contacted you to render assistance in repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client, before they will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by this Finance company.

As his personal Attorney, I am in possession of all legal documents, which shows the entire transaction between him and the Finance company in relation to this fund deposit. My constraint is to be able to source a partiner who is honest and trustworthy individual, that will act as trustee and willing to assist me in this transaction, your share as compensation will be (40%) while (5%) for tax and other miscellaneous expenses.

This transaction is 100% risk free provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. I guarantee you that the entire transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, as all documents that will be required by the Finance company will be provided.

Kindly contact me indicating your willingness in assisting me.

Best Regards,
Barrister Victor J. Zanolli



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