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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: "Barrister John Allen" <knowright2014@aol.com>
Reply-To: atlaw2013@terra.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 16:51:10 -0500
Subject: JAN. 15TH 2014/ INHERITANCE FUNDS

>From John Allen

Strictly Confidential

I know that this message may come to you as a great surprise since we have never met before, Please do not take this message as one of those junk mails we receive in our mail box everyday because this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication.

I am John Allen,a Lawyer and the personal Lawyer to late ENGR.GARRY,a businessman/contractor,herein shall be refered as my client,some years ago,my client,wife and the only child (Oh,May Their soul Rest in perfect Peace) were involved in a ghastly auto crash,unfortunately they all died,that was the worst experience I have ever had in my life,Since then I have made Public Figure: several enquiries to embassies to locate any of his relations or extended Family members and it has been unsuccessful,I decided to track his last Name over the Internet to locate any member of his family or any close name to his,hence I contacted you,I am contacting you to assist in receiving the money left behind by my late client before it will be declared as unclaimed fund by the bank and it's valued is USD12M.

The bank has sent several letters to me saying the account will be closed within the next 21 working days if nobody comes for the fund,he used my Office Address to open the account as his Lawyer during the time he arrived from IRAQ in MAY 2005,since his death I have been trying without success in locating my late client's relatives for over 6 years now, I seek your consent to pre Public Figure: sent you as the Next-of-Kin of my late client since you are a foreigner so that this Money can be transferred to you,then after the successful transfer both of us will share it according to the agreed percentage.

I guaranteed that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, all I need from you is Honest,Trust and Co-operation to enable us see this deal through within the next few days,I will send you an agreement drafted by me which both of us will sign concerning this transaction.

Please reply immediately after reading this confidential mail.

Best Regards,

Barrister John Allen

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