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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: "WILLIAM JOHNSTON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamjston1@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2013 10:08:14 -0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR INPUT ON THIS!!!

Dear friend,

I am Thomas Novick a solicitor. This mail is written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to my Late Client,my Deceased Client an AMERICAN worked with an oil firm here in the United Kingdom, made a fixed Deposit
of Fund valued at $8M USD with GLOBAL LINK SECURITY COMPANY (GLSC) and unfortunately lost his life in a car accident with his wife and only child on October 31, 2005.The only known next of kin is the wife who died along side with him except some vital
document related to the Deposit still in my possession.

The Governing Body of the financial/Security Company have contacted me on this matter and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as
the Next of Kin since you bear the same last name with my decease client so that my late Client’s Fund will not be confiscated by the SECURITY COMPANY.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate contact to me via my e-mail for further information related to this matter. As soon as I attain your confidence on this, I will give you more details.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect your prompt response.

Best Regards,

William Johnston (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources: