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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: "Castano Ramirez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <castano.ramirez@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:45:31 -0800
Subject: Mutual Benefit

Greetings From Ramirez,
 
Do permit me to introduce myself briefly; I am Barrister Castano Ramirez (Esq), a legal representative and personal Attorney to an expatriate and a contractor with an Independent, Exploration & Production Company (Now deceased). Actually, I got your contact information through the public records while searching for a reliable partner to help me in claiming my late client`s estate, who was a business magnate that lived in Spain for Nineteen years. On the Thursday, 11 March, 2004, my client, his wife, their two Children and his wife's parents were also among the victims that died in the 2004 Madrid train bombings Unfortunately they All lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you.
 
Prior to my explaining further, I must first make an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a predictable way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim I decided to reach you via this media to join me to put claims on this fund before it is seized or confiscated by the authorities. Before the catastrophe; He deposited the sum of $7.4M (SEVEN MILLION,FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with his bank.
 
As the Attorney/Adviser to my late client, the Bank has mandated me to present a member of his family(heir/inheritor)and instructed me to forward particulars
of my client's next of Kin/beneficiary,  to make Claims so that he/she can be paid the outstanding $7.4M (SEVEN MILLION,FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) or the deposited fund will be declared unserviceable and taken to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security as unclaimed fund, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to come for the claim or have the fund liquidated and made unserviceable in accordance with existing laws “ATTICUL 104B”.
 
After preliminary efforts of search for a direct family member which came to no avail, I decided to contact you, my suggestion to you is that I will like to present you as the beneficiary to this deposited fund, I know you may not be anyway related to my late client, it is absolutely necessary for me to make it take the resemblance of an actual next of kin; this is where I need your assistance, as my duty is to provide the necessary documents to back up our claim.
Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone apprehensive but I would like to assure you that I am proposing this project to you with the best of intensions, as an Attorney.
 
Next of Kinship is not Limited to relations of the deceased, nor is it confided to the circuit of parental relationship, rather it is by choice of the benefactor as regards to whom he wish to WILL it to (Beneficiary) either formal or informal by secret information disclosure to beneficiary be him/her    business partner, relation, kinsmen, or friends or well wishers.
 
The modality I have in place I can guarantee that if you follow my instructions (The rule of laws) and capitalizing of some judicial loop holes the funds will be released into your nominated bank account. Mind you that this transaction is 100% risk free; there is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the operation effectively.All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a Legitimate banking arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Upon successful conclusion of this project,Once the fund is transfer to you, we shall disbursed the content in the ratio of 45% and 55% respectively (45% for you and 55% for me) as our benefit. Each ($3,330,000 Million for you) and ($4,070,000 Million for me).
 
Kindly reply strictly to my personnel Email: castanoramirez@aim.com As above or you can equally send a fax with your personal Telephone /fax number for effective communication and oral clarification on how to proceed next.
 
Kindest Regards,
Castano Ramirez (Esq)
Legal Financial Service
Consultants/Asset Security.
E-mail: castanoramirez@aim.com
 

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