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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: "Barrister Ben James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benjameslawyer@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 01:52:28 +0100
Subject: RE: REQUEST FOR YOU

Dear Sir,
 
My name is Ben James,
 
I am a lawyer by profession and in practice,
 
My late client was an influential Wealthy Businessman,a Russian Contractor in my Country and a Russian big time Oil Dealer and the Principal owner of Oil Alliance Company and he left behind a deposit of sum fund in his Domiciliary Bank Account in a commercial bank here in my Country. I have employed every method to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this exercise has proved unsuccessful, due to my inability to locate any of his relative, I now have a view of investing this fund with you, which is my main reason of contacting you.
 
After the death of my client his Banker contacted me,as his Attorney to provide his next of kin who should inherit his fortune. The board of Directors of his bank adopted a resolution and I was mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money or forfeit the money to the bank as an abandoned Estate. The bank had planned to invoke a clause in the property Act, to confiscate the funds after the expiration of a period given to me.
 
In spite of this and at the point of desperation, I came across your contact and by virtue of my brief and my closeness to the deceased, I am very much aware of my client's financial standing and the bank account he operated here in my country.
 
You are best for this because you are a claim specialist.
 
All I require is your honesty and co-operation to enable us succeed in this deal, I guarantee that this deal will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any Breach of law. Please get in touch with me upon the receipt of this proposal with your full details.
 
Best Regards,
Ben James.
benjameslawyer@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: