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: "Advocatenkantoor Van Smith Bv" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_desk@mcom.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:19:16 +0100
Subject: Response.

Dear Friend

I am Van Smith a Advocaat at law. I was the personal Attorney to Late Boguslaw Krupa ,53 years of age who made a fixed deposit of fund valued at USD$12,500,000 (Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a Finance Company here in Europe and unfortunately lost his life a plane crash. Ref: view
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/04/20104107407467926.html

He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession. Upon a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin, so that my late client's funds will not be confiscated by the Financial Authority.

You will be entitled to 40% of the total fund, 50% for me while 10% is to be marked out for any expenses that will be incurred during the clearance process of transfer of the fund to your bank account. Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents that will be used to back you up as the legal beneficiary and next of kin of my late client will be procured.

Kindly, get in touch with me by my E-mail (info_desk@mcom.com) or telephone (+31-684-424-509) to enable us discuss further; you may also send your telephone number so that I can call you. Do not forget that a transaction of this magnitude requires utmost confidentiality and sincerity.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Thank you
Advocaat Van Smith
Tel: +31-684-424-509
Email:info_desk@mcom.com



Anti-fraud resources: