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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: KONRAD SKERIS <hope_is_a_great_thing@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: KONRAD SKERIS <kskeris@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2014 18:31:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Funds


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am
Barrister Konrad Skeris, a solicitor at law, and personal attorney to
Mr. Steve, a national of your country, who used to work as a contractor
here in Abidjan Ivory Coast. On the 20th of April 2008, my client, and
their only daughter were involved in a fatal accident along bassam auto
route expressway unfortunately all the occupants of the vehicle lost
their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries here to locate any
of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
search through through the internet to locate any member of his family
hence I contacted you. I am contacting you to assist in repartrating the
funds valued at US$20.5 million left behind by my client before it gets
confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge
amount was deposited.

The Bank has since issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin to my late client or have his account
confisicated within the next two weeks. Since I have been unsuccesful in
locating the relatives for over 9 years now, I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin to the deceased since both of you are
from the same country, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid
to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then
discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all
necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for this
claim. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us
see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.

Best regards.
Barrister Konrad Skeris (esq)

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