joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "ALI MARK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerailmarkegwu@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:42:21 +0200
Subject: YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS NEEDED

Dear Friend,
I am Barrister Ail Mark Egwu from Nigeria , I wish to introduce to you a project that would be of immense benefit to both of us. Being a lawyer and an executor of (WILLS), it is possible that we may be tempted to make funds out of our client's situations, when we cannot help it,or left with no better option.
The issue I am presenting to you is a case of my client who willed $16.5 millions to his next-of-kin. It was most unfortunate that he and his next-of-kin died on the same day 21st April 2004 in a ghastly car accident . Having waited this long, I am now faced with indecision about who to pass the funds to.
However, I don't belong to that school of thought which proposes that the funds of unlucky people be given to the government. I therefore seek for your assistance in presenting you as next of kin to the deceased. Documents covering the funds will be raised in your favor leading to the official and legal release of the funds to you. I will reveal other details upon your response to this email and as soon as we establish correspondence.
I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and furnish me with the following information as required below;
[1] NAME:......................................
[2] CONTACT ADD:..............................
[3] AGE: .................SEX:........................
[4] TEL NUMBER.............................. FAX NUMBER:..................
[6] OCCUPATION STATUS: ............................
[7] COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:.........COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.........
What you stand to gain would be discussed and it is negotiable before the claim commences. Thank you in anticipation of your urgent response.
Kind regards,
Barrister Ail Mark Egwu
alimark@terra.com
 

Anti-fraud resources: