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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: ZUL & CO <lawyerzul@gmail.com>
Reply-To: zul.co@hotmail.com
Date: 28 Oct 2011 10:51:17 -0400
Subject: Re:


Barrister zul & CO
12, 1st Floor ,
Jalan Sultanah , P.O. Box 100 ,
86007 Kluang, Johor
Dear ,
My name is Barrister zul, legal practitioner of the above law chambers. A
deceased
client of mine, Mr. Rodney who here in after shall be referred to as my
client,
died as the result of a heart-related condition in November 2002 losing
his best
friend, business partner and close associate, Mr. Adam L Howard in a
terrorist
attack in Bali, Indonesia on 12th October, 2002. Please visit the link
below for
more news about the incident.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Balinese_ground_zero.JPG http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2002/bali/ I am contacting you to assist in distributing the money valued
$14,500,000. 00 or
above left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared
unserviceable
by the bank.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and
beneficiary of my deceased client. This means that the proceeds of his
bank account
would be paid to you as his next of kin or the legitimate beneficiary.
This is
solely because there is no traceable heir to his estate and for the fact
that you
share the same last name with my late client. When the proceeds in his
bank account
is granted and transferred into your nominated account, we would share the
proceeds
on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self.
This would be done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you
from any
breach of the law. Of course your reputation and mine is important to me
and will be
protected as I will not involve myself in anything that will damage my
profession.
If this business proposal offends your moral and ethical values, with
respect to
that please do accept my sincere apology.
Respectfully,
Barrister zul


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