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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: Smith Owen <barrsmith.owen@superposta.com>
Reply-To: barrsmith.owen1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:17:29 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: Response


Hello,
 
How are you? Hope fine. Please I am not mistakenly sent this message to you and I want you to take it very serious because it will favour both of us. My name is Barrister Smith Owen, from London, UK. I am a legal adviser to one of your relation who was a contractor here in UK.
 
On the 1st of March 2007, my client and his wife were involved in auto accident and unfortunately they all lost their lives. Since then I have made several efforts to search for any of their extended relatives but no success.
 
But today, I came across your profile and found out that you bear the same surname with my late client, which permitted me to contact you for assisting me in repatriating his deposit amount of £7.5 Million left behind before it will be declared as unclaimed funds by the bank or Government.
 
His bank has issued me a notification to provide his next of Kin or have the account revoked since it has been dormant for over 5 year, then i contacted you because I have all the documents of my late client’s account and I will legalize all in your name to present you as his next of kin to receive the total amount of  £7.5 Million in your bank account for us to share.
 
Finally, If you are interested to perfect this deal with me, then I will secure all the legal documents in your name and apply direct to the bank on your behalf, all I need is your honest to enable us achieve this goal with joy and happiness. I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law.
 
You are advised to contact me immediately through my private email address: barrsmith.owen1@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
 
Sincerely,
Smith Owen Esq.


Anti-fraud resources: