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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: "Jose Miguel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josemiguel3@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 16:21:44 +0200
Subject: Urgent...Please reply,thanks!

Miguels & Asociados
Altamirano, 35 – 4 Izda
28008 Madrid, España.


Dear ,

My name is Jose Miguel an attorney with Miguels & ASOCIADOS. Actually, I got your contact information while searching for my late client relatives. A business magnate who lived in Spain for Thirteen years, and died along with his family during the Tsunami catastrophe, which occurred in December 2004.

Prior to my explaining further, I must first make an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a conventional way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim.

Before the catastrophe, he deposited the sum of $9.8M (NINE MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a Safe bank here in Spain. As the attorney to the late client, the bank has mandated me to present a member of his family; heir/inheritor to make Claims or the deposited fund will be confiscated and returned to the Bureau of bank Security as unclaimed.

After preliminary efforts of search for a direct family member which came to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to come for the claim or have the fund liquidated and made unserviceable in accordance with existing laws.
Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you to stand as the next of kin. I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but with the modality I have in place I can guarantee that if you follow my instructions (The rule of laws) the money will be released to us.

This transaction is 100% risk free. There is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the operation effectively. Once the deposited fund is released to you, we shall divide the content in the ratio of 50% for you, 50% for me as our benefit.

Kindly send your response to my private email; josemiguel3@gmx.com for further clarification. Please kindly get back to me if you are not willing to collaborate with me so that I can further my search for another partner.

I anticipate your kind response

Thanks

Jose Miguel


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