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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: abdulrahim.co@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:46:02 +0800
Subject: Re:

Dear , My name is ABDUL RAHIM, legal practitioner of the above law chambers. A deceased client of mine, Mr. Rodney who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition in November 2002 losing his best friend, business partner and close associate, Mr. Adam L Howard in a terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia on 12th October, 2002. Please visit the link below for more news about the incident. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Balinese_ground_zero.JPG http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2002/bali/ I am contacting you to assist in distributing the money valued $20,500,000. 00 or above left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client. This means that the proceeds of his bank account would be paid to you as his next of kin or the legitimate beneficiary. This is solely because there is no traceable heir to his estate and for the fact that you share the same last name with my late client. When the proceeds in his bank account is granted and transferred into your nominated account, we would share the proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self. This would be done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any breach of the law. Of course your reputation and mine is important to me and will be protected as I will not involve myself in anything that will damage my profession. If this business proposal offends your moral and ethical values, with respect to that please do accept my sincere apology. Respectfully, ABDUL RAHIM

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