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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: "Phillip Adams, Esq" <officefile5544@gmail.com>
Reply-To: phillipadams662@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:13:58 +0100
Subject: AWAITS FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY

Phillip Adams, Esq.
3, Rue du Gouverneur Fourn 08 BP 799
Cotonou, Republic of Benin

Dear Friend,

I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail, and if the content
does not meet with your personal and business ethics, I wish to apologize
in advance. My name is Barrister Phillip Adams, Esq. I am the personal
attorney to a late national of your country who was an oil merchant here in
Republic of Benin. On the 27th of April, 2010 my client was involved in a
car accident here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin and unfortunately lost his
life in the event of the crash. Since then I have made several inquiry to
locate any of his direct relatives but to no avail.

Prior to the accident that claimed his life, my client was operating a bank
account here with a cash balance of US$7.5Million (Seven Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and which has remained unclaimed
till date. Basically, the reason I have contacted you is because the bank
where the decease had the account has now issued me a notice to provide his
next of kin within the next one month or they will have no option than to
declare the account unserviceable and confiscate the funds. Therefore,
since I have not been successful with locating or rather tracing any of his
direct relative till date, I wish to seek your consent to present your name
as the next of kin of the deceased since you answer same surname and from
the same country with him, so that the funds will be transferred to you as
the beneficiary and then you and I will share the funds than allowing the
bank to confiscate the huge amount. Fortunately, whether you are a direct
relative of him or not is never a barrier to the success of the claim
procedure.

Upon your acceptance and return mail, the process of claim is very simple
and not complicated nor risky to your involvement. We shall acquire legal
documents that will be used to backup this funds claim in your name as the
next of kin/beneficiary of the funds. Hence, it will be necessary that you
give me your honest co-operation and assistance to enable us see this
transaction through. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement in accordance with the inheritance claim act
here, but more importantly, be rest assured that you are not breaking any
law or under any risk whatsoever. Therefore, kindly get back to me and
provide me with your information for the documentation purposes: YOUR FULL
NAMES, YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER, YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION.
NOTE: After a successful claim and transfer of the funds to the bank
account which you will provide, you and I will share the funds at the rate
of 50% for me and 50% for you as settlement for your assistance and
cooperation.

Regards,
Phillip Adams, Esq

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