joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: Andrew Wingfield <mail.andrewwingfieldesq@gmail.com>
Reply-To: andrewwingfield.llp@lawyer.com
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 17:45:13 -0500
Subject: Re: Sir/Ma

Dear Sir/Madam,

*NOTIFICATION OF CLAIM.*

This is a personal E-mail directed to you and I request that it be treated
as such. I am Andrew Wingfield Esq. -Senior Partner at law. I have a
proposition relating to the trusteeship of a late client. I have been given
the final notice as his private attorney to present members of his extended
family who may stand as beneficiaries to his estates or have them forfeited
as the law of succession/claims/fund indicates a duration in which such
claims could be tolerated; unfortunately he had no (will) at the time of
his death and the financial institution have mandated me to present the
next of kin or a relative who will claim the funds and failure to respond
to this ultimatum would legally allow the financial institute to report
this funds to the Reserve Bank as unclaimed funds (Lack of supersede).

Considering my lack of success in my bid to locate his relatives over the
years, I solicit your consent to enable me produce you as the next of kin
to the deceased. It is my intention that we work this claim together and
upon your decision of acceptance, I would process the release of these
funds to your possession as the Beneficiary. You are hereby advised to
immediately proceed by re-confirming to this office & I shall let you know
the entire plan of asset of the deceased estate as soon as i receive your
positive response with your Full Names, Contact Address, Direct
Telephone/Cellphone#, Occupation, Age & Sex. I will implore your assistance
along with my expertise to provide the necessary, legally obtained
documents to back up any claim we make regarding this process, and will
just require your understanding/ cooperation to enable us achieve success
within a legitimate arrangement, eliminating any liability resulting from
any breach of the prevalent laws. I will be grateful to acknowledge your
swift reply to this laudable proposal of mutual benefit.

Sincerely Yours,
ANDREW WINGFIELD -Senior Partner
*Asset Management & Investment Funds *Financial Institutions.
*The information on this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally
privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this e-mail
by anyone else is unauthorized If you are not the intended recipient, any
disclosure, copying,distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken
in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful.*

Anti-fraud resources: