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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: "Louis Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <louismark64@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 19:28:50 -0700
Subject: Greetings

FROM MR louis mark,
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, PUBLIC NOTARY &
HIGH COURT REPRESENTATIVE.
AVENUE 61,SPLINT EX ROAD
ACCRA GHANA WEST AFRICA

Compliments of the day,

It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a surprise. This is because we have not met before but i am inspired to sending you this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to two of us.

However,I am Barrister louis mark, the personal Attorney to the late Eng.Steve M.Nelson from British Columbia-Canada,who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Accra Ghana.On the 21st of April 2007, my client, his wife And their two children were involved in a car accident on a holiday trip to one of Ghana tourist city Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients 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 of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my late client, I have papers backing this transaction up that will convince the bank that you are the only relative of my client.Otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged,Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at $.5 million U.S dollars (Eight million five hundred thousand U.S.dollars).Consequently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 30 official working days,Since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over several years now.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $8.5 million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for your government tax as they may require.

Your information such as below:

1. Your full name............
2. Resident Address...........
3. Telephone..................
4. Fax Numbers................
5. Email Address..............
6. Occupation.................
7. Date of birth..............

Is required for immediate commencement of this transaction.As a barrister of high standard, I have the Deposit Slip documents that will back up this claim we are to make.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law.


Yours Faithfully,
Barrister louis mark.

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