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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: "williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsmrks@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:52:33 +0100
Subject: I will be expecting you urgently.


Marks & Associates Chambers
MS JOYCE BROWNING
2045 ROYAL ROAD
LONDON WIP 6HQ
England UK.
Private Email:williamsmrks@gmail.com


Dear Sir/Ma.


Good day, first, I must apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency that this E-Letter demands. I want to invest in your country or your company With your assistance.


I am Firthy eighth (58) years old established lawyer here in London. My name is Williams Marks. A legal personal attorney to an expatriate and a consultant with an Australian Oil company, WOOD SIDE (Now deceased). He died in the Tsunami disaster on 26th December 2004 while on vacation. six years ago, my Client successfully executed a contract that was worth $US 47.3 Million Dollar. A part payment of $US 35 Million Dollar was paid to my client, while the balance of $US 12.3 Million Dollar stood unpaid before his sudden death in the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster.


Recently, the management of his bank sent a notification letter to me, informing of the existence of the $US 12.3 Million Dollar claim when they got no response from my client. All my efforts to locate his possible next of kin however proved abortive. Until his sudden demise, he was single. He lost his wife 12 years ago and never remarried. Now the crux of this letter is that by the end of this month the bank will divert all unclaimed bill to the government coffer account.


As his personal attorney/Adviser, his bank has officially notified me and instructed me to forward particulars of my client's next of kin within the next 14 official working days so that he/she can be paid the outstanding $US 12.3 Million Dollar or the funds will be diverted as advised. Following my inability to locate any of his relatives, I decided to contact you for a deal so that we can work together as a team to remit the money to your account as my client “next-of-kin” because I do not want to seat and watch my client hard earned entitlement go into wrong use. I assure you that this is achievable; as a lawyer, I will immediately source the relevant documentation that will perfect the claim – all I need from you is your honest co-operation (trust and confidentiality) to enable us see this deal through.


As an attorney, I guarantee you that this proposal is with the best of intentions. Upon successful conclusion of this project, you will be compensated with 40% of the total fund, while 60% will be for me. If this is workable, urgently contact with me to give you further clarification on how to proceed next.


Please response to the above email address.


Sincerely yours,


Barr.Williams Marks.
{Legal Adviser London}







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