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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: "Attorney Rhys Howard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <attorneyrhyshoward@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:29:36 +0100
Subject: Treat Urgent and Confidential

Hello My Good Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself, I am Mr.Rhys Howard. Barrister to late Engr.James who happen to be my client before he died some years ago,before his death he told me he made a fixed deposit with Natwest Bank London.

The bank Manager called me last two Months to inform me that my late client need to update his fixed deposit agreement with the Bank, So I told them my late client is dead and that I am doing everything possible to get his family member to inherit is fixed deposit with the Bank. The bank has given me up to 30th of March 2012 to get any of his relatives to file in for the claim or else they would confiscate the funds.

Ever since then I have been trying to contact you or any other relations of his who will stand as his next of kin to inherit his $10million fixed deposit he made with the bank.

The bank wants to know if the next of kin will want to roll the fixed deposit for another 10years or make the withdrawal immediately, so they have ask me to come up with my late client next of kin decision before the deadline.

I made a lot of research before I was able to get your information, I will want to know if you would want to roll the deposit over for the next 10years or make the withdrawal immediately.

Please get back to me as soon as possible with your information as place below if you wish to make withdrawal of your fund.

1. Full Names
2. Present Occupation
3. Age
4. Contact Address
5. Any of your proof Identification
6. Phone and Fax number

Please get back to me as soon as possible,so that I can confirm your details with my late client details. I will also disclose other information of your late relative once I am satisfied with your information.Be rest assured,I will be able to convince the Bank that you are my late client beneficiary.Since both of you bear same surname,I pray you reason with me.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Barr.Rhys Howard.

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