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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: "GERALD PALE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gerald_pale@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 09:57:55 -1200
Subject: ATTENTION!!!

Kind Attention

You might be apprehensive reading my mail as I know this is certainly an unconventional approach to start up relationship, however due to the limited time at my disposal; I am forced to make contacts to you through this means. I got your contact from the world email directory while searching for someone that suits my proposed transaction. Please, permit me to make this little introduction. I am a lawyer by profession. I am writing to seek your consent to let me present you as a relative to my late client who died with his wife and only daughter in the Madrid plane crash of 20th August 2008. Please you can verify by going through the link below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/20/madrid.spain2

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7572643.stm

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/26/plane.crash.madrid.survivor/

As his lawyer I did make attempts to locate any of his close relatives so that his huge deposited with the bank can be paid to them but it proved abortive. However his bank has issued me a 21 days mandate to present his next of kin {who happened to be his dead wife} or any of his close relatives to enable them claim his funds otherwise his account which is already dormant, will be confiscated and declared unserviceable. Based on this mandate,I seek your consent to present you to the bank as a relative to my deceased client so that the proceeds of his account valued at $7,420,000.00 US (Seven Million Four Hundred and twenty Thousand United States Dollars Only) can be paid to you so you and I can share it, 65% to me and 35% to you. I also hope to invest part of my share in any business you think will be lucrative in your location owing to your advice.

If you must know i am in possession of a few vital legal documents that would aid us in backing up our claims and also as the deceased attorney I would procure a court affidavit on your behalf presenting you legally as a relative to the deceased. All I need is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of law.

I will appreciate your urgent response indicating your interest as well as leaving me with your details, Full names, address and direct telephone numbers so I can open up a conversation with you. I will give you more details once I am assured of your sincerity and full cooperation. Please get back to me through my private and secured email at : gerald_pale@w.cn

I await your quick response.

Best Regards

Barrister Gerald Pale

Alternative Email: gerald_pale@w.cn

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