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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: "Norhayati Binti Ariffin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactbarrwiliam1@foxmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 23:40:24 +0100
Subject: I Choose to Contact You Hoping to hear from you

>From Barr. Bidemi Williams,
Solicitor Chamber
Palm building, Palm ave, 7th floor London ,UK.
Date: 01 December 2013.
 
Good day,
 
I am the above named person and i own the above chamber in
 
London,UK.This mail is regarding my pass experience with the UK
 
Government and the Law guiding the Banking system here in UK.
 
I once had a client by the name Mr. Sayed .A. Mohammed,he was a South
 
Korea Business Consultant, whom was in united kingdom for some years on
 
a business trip and i was his lawyer for seven year, he had done and
 
sealed a lot of transaction with several Firm's here in UK.
 
Mr Sayed A Mohammed died few year ago when he visited his country ,
 
before his death Mr. Sayed A Mohammed deposited a large sum amount of
 
money in a Bank, here in UK. The amount of the money deposited and the
 
Banks name is not necessary now.
 
To cult the story short, few year after his death i recieve a
 
notification letter from the Bank, saying that the UK Government has
 
giving me a duration of time to fine the next of Kin of Mr. Sayed to
 
stand forward and claim his money and i was giving six month to do
 
this. I traveled to South Korea twice in search of any of his family
 
but i couldn't find any of them, before the given time and the money
 
was claimed by the UK Government.
 
Mr. Sayed .A. Mohammed never had a WILL before his death and i tried to
 
locate his family in South Korea but i couldn't. Am having similar
 
problem at hand now, i have been given six month by the UK Government
 
to locate any of the family of my diseased Client whom has passed away
 
few year ago. I have tried to locate his family too but i could fine
 
any, i have three month left from the six month giving to me by the UK
 
Government. I will not allow the Government lay claim to my client
 
money again, this is the reason why am contacting you i need your
 
corporation and honesty in this deal. I will give you more details on
 
this as soon as i receive your email of interest in helping out.
 
Best regards,
 
Barrister Bidemi Williams.
44 (0) 770 004 7560.

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