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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: STEVE NICHOLAS <stevekoffi436@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <stevenicholas920@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 23:19:28 +0000
Subject: Re: Thought You would be Interested From A friend!

Dear Friend,
 
Greetings in good faith. I am Barrister Steve Nicholas, a solicitor in law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Mark of United States of America who work with Shell Petroleum Company here in Accra Ghana. On Sunday, 2nd June, 2008, my client with His Wife and Their three children were Involved in an accident and they lost Their Lives, since then I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any of his extended relatives all to No avail.
 
Therefore, after several unsuccessful Attempts, I have Decided to track His last name over the Internet maybe luckily I might locate Any member of His Family member  It was there I contacted you.
 
Meanwhile, before the death of my client in terrible accident he Deposited sum amount of $15, Millions U.S dollars under Security company. However, I have only written to seek your indulgence to assist in trustful and retrieve the money left behind by my late client before the FUND is a declared confiscate by the security company as I has-been Mandated by the company as the personal attorney to late Mr. Mark to Provide the next of kin to the decease or-have the fund confiscate Within the next Few weeks.
 
Since I have-been unsuccessful in locating the relative for over five years now I therefore, to seek your consent to present you to the security company as the next of kin to the deceased late (Mr. Mark) It Would be easy to convert the valued [$15 million] to you as the rightful next of kin Then you and I can share the money in the Following ration: 60% goes to me and 40% goes to you.
 
I have all Necessary Legal Documents That can be used to back up the claim and I have Worked out the Modalities of this transaction all I require is your sincere co-operation to enable us succeed in this deal. I guarantee that this transaction would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from Any breach of law.
 
Please if you are interested to work with me with good faith and honesty, I will Provide all the legal papers / Documents that backs you up as the true next of kin and It shall be submit to the Finance house for proper Claim of the fund. I hope to hear further response from you regards the successful conclusions of this great I therefore, patiently to hear back from you as to enable us proceed further to the next level of this project which would be under full 10 days.
 
Thanks
Barrister Steve Nicholas (ESQ
stevenicholas920@gmail.com

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