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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Felix Boateng Esq." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <felixboateng@zoho.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:06:43 +0100
Subject: LATE. MICHAEL HARRIS.

Boateng Associates & Chambers.
Solicitors & Advocates,
Accra - Ghana.

Dear Friend,

I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me. My name is Barrister Felix Boateng, a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to late Mr. Michael Harrais who died in Air France plane which disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean were 58 Brazilians and 61 French nationals, airline officials said along With his wife Mrs. Anne on the 31st May 2009 Air France plane with other 216 passengers on board (May their soul rest in peace). I know that my client had no living kin but I went ahead and made several inquiries to their embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.


You can confirm this from the website below which was published by

BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8077858.stm


I only did so to be double sure of this fact. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged, particularly in the Stanbic Bank Ghana where the deceased had an account valued at about $25 Million Dollars, The bank has issued me a notice that in the event that no next of kin comes up for the claim, the account will be confiscated if not claimed and we have just about few months.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$25 Million Dollars can be paid into your nominated bank account and then you and I can share the money in the mode. 60% shall be for me and 35% for you and 5% shall be map out for expense that are being made within the transfer.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be use as backup for this transaction, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please your telephone and fax number urgently needed for further discussion. I look forward to your urgent response.

Best regards,



Barrister Felix Boateng Esq.

Anti-fraud resources: