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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: "WILLIAM BARRY" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:51:42 -0300
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Direct Tel: + 44 -7035905483
 
 
Dear Friend,
 
Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is
not a hoax and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it
deserves. This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I
believe it is only a day that people meet and become great friends and
business partners. This is a personal and private mail directed to you
and I request that it be treated as such. My name is Barr.William Barry. I
was the personal attorney /sole executor to late Andreas Schanner,
hereafter referred to as 'My late Client'. He was an independent
property magnate here in the United Kingdom. He was among the victims
of AF4590 air France Concorde New York bound jet with his immediate
family on the Monday, 31 July, 2000. Since the death of my client in ,
I have written several letters to his Embassy here in London with
intent to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimant
/ beneficiary of this abandoned monetary deposit and all such efforts
have been to no avail. Click website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
 
About a week ago, I received a letter suggesting a likely proceeding
for confiscation of his deposit in line with existing laws by the bank
in which my client deposited the sum of  Fifty Million United States
Dollars Only. On this note I decided to search for a credible person
to present as the Next of Kin to his Estate. I am contacting you that
I may, with your consent, present you to the "trustee" Bank as my late
client's surviving family member so as to enable you put up a claim to
the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my late client. I
propose that 40% of the net sum will accrue to you at the conclusion
of this deal, while I retain the balance 60%.If you are interested,
Please complete the below detail.
 
1. NAME IN FULL:.............................
2. ADDRESS:.......................................
3. NATIONALITY:...................................
4. AGE:.............................................
5. SEX..............................................
6. OCCUPATION:......................................
7. MARITAL STATUS:..................................
8. PHONE /FAX NUMBERS............................................
 
I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is100%
hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as all
necessary arrangements have been made for a successful transfer of the
Fund to your nominated account within 10 Banking days of signifying
your interest. Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on
this.
 
Best regards,
Barr.William Barry

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