joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "DUNCAN LAW FIRM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <duncnlawchamber@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:02:04 +0100
Subject: Your Urgent Attention Needed Immediately.

 
 
Duncan Law Chambers
Oakhill House 130, Tonbridge Road,
Hilden Borough, Tonbridge,
Ken TN11 9DZ
London United Kingdom
Tel +44-7035-9364-57
Fax +44-7035-9364-5
 
Greetings,
 
 
I am Duncan A. Barnet (Esq.).A personal attorney to the late Mr. Michael Blair
who worked with the Shell British Petroleum .Michael Blair a well known
Philanthropist, before he died, he made a Will in our law firm stating that
(Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars only) should be donated to
any Philanthropist or any Orphanage home or any charitable organization of our
choice overseas.
We have made our random draw and your e-mail address was picked to receive this
fund as the beneficiary of his Will. Kindly get back to me as soon as you are in
receipt of my mail to enable me tell you what next to do to receive this fund
legally.
 
 
 
Sincerely
Mr.Duncan A. Barnet

Anti-fraud resources: