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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 Richard (H)" <hsonnbnk@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:54:38 +0100
Subject: LOOKING FORWARD TO FINALIZING THIS PROJECT WITH YOU.

Hello Sir/Madam,

How are you doing? forgive me for my manners in contacting you as i have
tried several
means in reaching out to you, only to be given the slightest of all hope by
your embassy.

My name is Barrister Richard, attorney at law with Harvey CHAMBERS, UNITED
KINGDOM i was
being mandated to handle your case file with BANK OF AMERICA regarding a
wire transfer
worth over $12,5 Million, the fund has being in custody of the Federal
Reserve Bank New York
USA since 2010, i was recently contacted to search for the reputable
beneficiary to the fund else
the government may lay claim of the fund without taking necessary step as
such fund are only
mandated to stay in custody of the Federal Reserve Bank on a short period
of time (2 years)

The bank is on the verge of laying claim of the fund if i do not present
the beneficiary
to the fund, after going through my file, i was made to understand that you
share the same
surname to the same person that deposit the fund with Bank of America,
which is why i am
contacting you to ascertain the relationship based on the surname that you
shared with the
original depositor, the Depositor died an untimely death and in his will he
gave most of his
properties to charities and welfare organization in support to mankind and
also said that if
ever we find his relatives we should make all necessary arrangement in
making sure he/she
receives her own end of the bargain(fund) as of right now there is a fund
of $12,5 Million
with Federal Reserve Bank New York,USA.

I am only asking you for your mutual understanding and co-operation so we
can finish up this
project with the bank, while i will get my own share from the money once
its being transfer
into your local bank account, i am giving you 100% that it is risk free and
involves no illegal
scheme as all documents would be obtain from the court.

Please be kind enough in getting back to me so i can furnish you with more
details as to how
we can actualize this project within two weeks.

I awaits your prompt response.

Sincerely yours

Barrister Richard

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