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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: "Barr.Vitchet Vahd" <barr.vitchetvahd@gmx.com>
Reply-To: vitchetvahd@vahdchambers.org
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:42:37 +0700
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Attention:
 
Compliment of the day. Excuse my intrusion into your private life without your prior permission. I hope my mail will not cause you much embarrassment as I write to you in good faith. I am Barrister Vitchet Vahd,a solicitor at law, personal attorney to (Late) Mr, R.Klaus a business man resident here in Cambodia for more than twenty years. On the 1st of June 2005, he and his wife and only daughter were involved in a boat accident in the Mekong River in Vietnam while visiting a neighboring country on vacation.
They were buried two weeks after and I have exhausted all means of reaching anyone who might be related to them. This has been made more difficult because no mention was made of any relative while he was alive.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate this family, I decided to contact you since my client died without any testified (WILL), which would have provided the next of kin to his fund .So since there is no next of kin who can come forward and apply for this claim. You will permit me as the attorney who take proper list documentary care of this estate, to fill in your name in my file as his next of kin and beneficiary of this fund deposited ,since  my late client did not signed any name in my file jacket as the inheritor of his funds.
Your assistance is needed in repatriating the fund valued US$18.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge amount was deposited in a suspense account. The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty one official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessfully in locating the relatives for over (5 Year ) now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since I will fill in your name in my file jacket as the next of kin to his estate, so that the fund  can be paid into your account.
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.
 
I guarantee that this deal will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me urgently for more details through my alternative email address vitchetvahd@vahdchambers.org .
 
 
Thanks for your prompt response,
 
Barr.Vitchet Vahd

 

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