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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: ALFRED AWAH <alfred.awah10@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 13:41:16 -0800
Subject: GREETINGS

Dear Sir,

I am Mr Alfred Awah, Account Officer to a Customer who shares the
same surname with you,who is a foreigner here in my country.
On February 20th, 2008, my Client, his wife and their only Child were
involved in an auto crash (motor accident), he died at the spot with
the child while the wife died after few days in the hospital, since
then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my Client's
extended Relatives but all efforts proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last
name over the Internet to locate any of his Family's member hence I
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in Repatriating his
funds valued Eight Million three Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars (US$8.3m) left behind by my late client in his account before
the bank will confiscate or declared his account unserviceable.

However, the Bank has issued me a notice to provide his relative or
have the account confiscated, since I have been unsuccessful in
locating the relatives all this while, I seek your consent to present
you as his relation since you bear the same surname with my late
client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and
then you and me will share the money 50% - 50%.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back
you up for the claim, all I require from you is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through, I guarantee you
that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law.
Please reply me immediately and indicate your positive interest over
this opportunity that came our way.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Alfred Awah

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