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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: "Barr. Donald Stephen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <partnerstephen@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:12:49 -0800
Subject: Act Accordingly

Donald Stephen & Associates
Chancery House
53-64 Chancery Lane
London WC2A IRP
United Kingdom
 
Good Day,
 
I am Barrister Donald Stephen, an attorney at law. A deceased client of
mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the
result of a heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart
condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the
Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23,
2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported
on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html
 
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind
by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this deposit valued at Ten Million Eight Hundred Thousands
British Pounds( GBP10.8 million Pounds) is lodged. This bank has
issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be
confiscated.
 
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to
you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's
next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation
to enable us see this transaction through.
 
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from many breach of the law.I await your prompt response.
 
Best Regards,
Barr. Donald Stephen
(Principal Partner)

Anti-fraud resources: