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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: "Mills Nii Osah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <associatesfirm@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:35:56 -0700
Subject: REQUEST


I wish to approach you with a request that would be of immense
benefit to both of us. Being an executor of wills, it is possible that we
may be tempted to make fortune out of our client's situations, when
we cannot help it, or left with no better option. The issue I am
presenting to you is a case of my client who die without a
WILL. It was most unfortunate that he died without leaving a next-of-kin
to succeed him. I am now faced with confusion of who to pass the fortune to.

According to the English law, the fortune is supposed to be bequeathed
to the government. However,I don't belong to that school of thought
which proposes that the fortune of unlucky people be given to the
government.My purpose of contacting you is to seek your acting as
the beneficiary of the will, and lay claim the legacy of $12.2million
which this unfortunate client of mine acquired before his death.
For now, I alone know about this funds, as my client has great
confidence in me. Everything will be left between you and I. The
share would be 40% for you and 60% for me. I would want to take
care of the needy and less privileged, as this is my primary objective.
All I have to do is amend the will to make you the beneficiary to the
$12.2million legacy.

Again, I feel that you may be apprehensive and consider this amount
too big for you to defend. It does not matter, as there are documents
to back it up. This is a legacy being passed on to a next-of-kin. I need
not emphasize to you that the sensitivity of this issue need not be toyed
with by neglecting its confidentiality. I therefore appeal to you not
to discuss this request with anybody, even if you decline my request.

Until I am sure of your consent and full cooperation,I would prefer
that we maintain correspondence by email. At this point I want to
assure you that your true consent, full cooperation and
confidentiality are all that are required for us to take full advantage of
this opportunity.Kindly forward the following information, full names,
telephone /fax number and home address to enable me to start the process
of reprofiling the funds.


I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours truly

Barr.Mills Nii Osah

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