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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: "MR. RICHARD WELLS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardwells24@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:08:43 -0800
Subject: Mr. Richard Wells

Dear Beneficiary,

I am Barrister Mr. Richard Wells, I work with the Commercial Bar
Association of England.I happen to know Mr. Richard Wells very well,
over the years I had been assigned by the law firm I work with to
handle her file and this brought me close to her, it is a pity you
have not come to know her as she is definitely a people oriented
person.

You see she had no issues (child) and so she gave her funds to her
brother and sister she actually gave a rather large amount as a gift
to her relatives and requested they use some funds for charity, they
thought she would die soon so they confiscated everything for their
selfish use, this led her to will her remaining funds to someone
else,I had often asked her about this someone else all she told me

was
God will show her. I guess you are that someone. I would suggest you
follow this through to at least satisfy your conscience, if she
donated funds to you, then I would expect you should question why?
specially if you do not really know this woman of faith.

Note that the details you received from her(SWIFT CODE:

CLYDGB21647)
was a probing move to establish contact, because I am sure you know

as
well as I do that most people would snatch at the offer considering
the large amount involved and also since the disbursement of this

fund
would be entirely in the hands of the claimant. For this reason she
felt that after our initial communication I should be able to
determine if we can proceed based on certain indices as well as
intuitive feeling I would deduce.

I shall undertake to collate relevant details with regards to the
funds withdrawal process.( this will include the original deposit
certificate issued by the finance house when her funds were
deposited,{you will need to present this at the financial institute
where the funds are presently lodged, and I will find it no imposition
to assist you when that time comes} Power of attorney and her will
with the relevant changes in place)

The relevant documents which include the power of attorney must be
completed with pertinent information from you, these will include the
following:

Full names:
Address:
Country of origin:
Sex:
Date of birth:
Direct telephone & fax numbers:
Occupation:
*Please briefly introduce yourself*

Once you send the above details I shall draft the power of attorney
and send you a copy for your use alongside the finance/security law
firm's contact details, so you can make the funds withdrawal. Please
note that all paper works to gain you access to her funds which you
are specifically to put to charitable use will be given you by me and
all monies to do this paper work has already been offset, It is very
important you keep this confidential as Mrs.Matilda Luwis has
requested your utmost confidentiality in this matter due to reactions
which could arise from her relatives who has plundered her wealth to
their selfish interest.

Please respond promptly to enable me carry out my legal obligations

to
you and Mr. Richard Wells

Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Mr. Richard Wells
Attorney at-Law.
Richard W& Associates LLP

Anti-fraud resources: