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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: "MR. FITZGERALD MONAHAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <headoffice56@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:37:04 +0100
Subject: URGENT RESPOND NEEDED.

MR. FITZGERALD MONAHAN & ASSOCIATES L.L.C
(Will, Finance & Probate Solicitors
Lewisham High Street)
London United Kingdom


Beneficiary,



I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise, Please accept the content in good faith. I do not intend to cause any grief to you and your family. The reason for sending this mail is very fundamental to the doctrine of human privileges and right. My name is Barrister MR.FITZGERALD MONAHAN a legal practitioner based in London and the personal Attorney to late Mr. Adams,who died along with his wife and two sons who died in the Tube explosion between King's Cross-and Russell Square in London. My client was a successful and is an accomplished family man, who made enough fortune before his untimely death. Since then I had made several Inquiries through your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relative but this exercise has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives through the Internet, to locate any member of his family, not much progress was recorded. My late client was an influential wealthy businessman, an oil magnet here in London and he left be


After the death of my client his bankers contacted me, as his Attorney to provide his next of kin who should inherit his funds. The board of directors of his bank adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within 28 bank Working days or forfeit the fund to the Government as an unclaimed fund. The bankers had planned to invoke the abandoned fund/property decree of 1996 to confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me.
Fortunately, I came across your name, to my greatest astonishment, I discovered that you bear the same surname with my late client and coincidentally, you are national of the same country. Being convinced that you may be related with my late client or that you might provide clue to my search, I therefore, decided to contact with these facts before me, because of the similarities. By virtue of my closeness to the deceased and his immediate family, I am very much aware of my client financial standing and the bank account he operates.


However, Upon filing the application, the bank shall process it and then contact you direct with their decision to award or not to award the deposit to you and if they accept, they would be informing you on how the payment shall be made to you. I shall be using my position here to provide the entire legal requirement that is needed. The necessary legal papers would be procured to back it up and convince the bank that you are qualified as the next of kin. A copy of all the documents obtained shall be sent to you for your perusal I must state at this point that it is unethical and against the profession for me to be seeking you and also feel that I owe this to my client. I stand to be disrobed if I am found out but I am trusting you believing that you can keep the issue of my contacting first to yourself till this transaction is concluded and I come to meet you. The whole process shall take about 10 working days or less from the day we officially file the application.


I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as the next of kin of my deceased client, so that you can be paid the funds left in his bank account. I therefore seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are at an advantage, bearing the same surname and equally from the same country that the proceeds of this Bank Account valued at $7,500,000.00 (USD) can be paid to you. We shall both share the funds. 55% for me and 40% to you, while 5% should be set aside for Expenses each way. I shall assemble all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up our claim. All I require is your honesty, co-operation and sincerity 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 law.


Your swift response is anticipated.


Yours Truly
MR. FITZGERALD MONAHAN & ASSOCIATES L.L.C
(Will, Finance & Probate Solicitors)
London United Kingdom

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