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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: "Barr. Patrick Owolabi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrpatrickowolabilaw002@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 01:15:23 -0800
Subject: Good Day Beneficiary!!!!!

Attn: Dear Beneficiary,

Compliments of the day,

Please read this email carefully,

Firstly, this is not to cause you embarrassment, I am Barrister Patrick Owolabi, I'm the Personal Attorney and legal adviser to late Mr. Steve A. (Until his Death) a National of your country, who used to be a private contractor with Agip Oil Company in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2004, He and his Wife with their three Children were involved in an auto crash; all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several inquiries with his country embassies to locate any of his extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you with this proposal.

I am contacting you to assist in repatriating this huge amount of money left behind by my late client before the Bank get it confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, where these huge deposit is lodged.

The deceased had a Deposit presently valued USD$10 Million (Ten Million United States Dollars only) which I am aware of and the BANK has issued to me, As his personal attorney, a full notice to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by WILL otherwise the account will be confiscated within the next thirty official working days.

Since then I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over (Five Years) Now, I therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / WILL Beneficiary to the deceased, In that case the proceeds of this account valued at USD$10 Million can be paid to you.

Furthermore, please don’t worry how this is going to be done. But if you give me your wiliness to do this with me, then I will now present you to the bank as the real next of Kin to my late client and then, the proceedings for the transfer will commence immediately.

This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% for me 30% for you, 10% for charity organizations.

All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law and this fund is (100% risk free)

I am presently in Nigeria and I ask for your cooperation to provide me the following information:

1. Your Full Name...........
2. Your Residential/Contact Address......
3. Your Telephone/Mobile and Fax Number.......
4. Your Occupation......
5. Your Age......
6. Your Sex.....

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated, thanks and have a nice day, as I await your immediate response.

Best Regards.
Barrister Patrick Owolabi,
Principal Attorney.

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