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: "Alfa Johnson" <racheal@wys0s5245.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <alfajohnson2007@o2.pl>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:46:42 -0700
Subject: Next Of Kin.

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
This is to inform you about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch with. I am compelled to
do this because I would not want the bank to push my client’s funds into the bank treasury as
unclaimed inheritance. This mail is written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as
NEXT OF KIN to my Late Client since you are a foreigner and only a foreigner can lay claims on this
inheritance.
 
The Governing Body of the Bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet to provide the Next of
Kin to lay claims to the Fund. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your
consent to be presented as the next of Kin so that my late Clients' Fund will not be confiscated by
the Bank and pushed into the bank treasury as unclaimed bills. For the sake of Transparency on this
matter, you are free to make immediate contact for further clarification and explanation on this matter.
 
I will need you also to reconfirm your Full Name, Address and contact telephone number to ascertain
the fact that I am dealing with the right person.
 
Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we expect your prompt response to this
matter as the urgency demands.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
>From Alfa Johnson
International Solicitors)
Email: alfajohnson@o2.pl

Anti-fraud resources: