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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: George Mingay <sales@armstrongmachinery.com>
Reply-To: George Mingay <mingaygeorgelaws@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 19:21:14 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Urgent Attention

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

I am George Mingay; Legal Director Clyde & Co. LLP. I am writing with respect to a deceased client of mine who bears the same LAST NAME with you. I can confirm with certainty that my client died intestate and no next–of–kin has been found or has come forward all these years. Since the death of my client, I have written several letters to the Embassy with intention of locating any of his extended relatives whom shall be Claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail.

I have now received official letters in the last few weeks suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing banking regulations and laws governing Intestacy in the Europe.
Based on this recent information, I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear same last name, I am contacting you that I may, with your consent, present you to the "trustee" bank as my late client's surviving family member and his next of kin. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage and working with you, we can secure the funds instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds to the CROWN. This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME with my client and can stand as his extended relative. This exactly is why I crave your participation and co-operation.

I propose that 40% of the net sum of €18.5 Million (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Euro) will accrue to you at the conclusion of this deal in so far as I do not incur further expenses. I will fill you in with further details and my personal cell phone number upon your reply. It is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE that absolute CONFIDENTIALITY is maintained in this proposal.
THEREFORE, to facilitate the immediate transfer of these funds, you need, first to contact me via my private e-mail: (mingaygeorgelaws@outlook.com) signifying your interest in this matter. I would need you to forward your confidential telephone and correspondence contact address to proceed.

Upon the receipt of your reply, I will send you by fax or E-mail the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is 100% hitch-free and that you should not entertain any worries. If I thought otherwise, I would not make this proposal.
Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this.

Yours Sincerely,
George Mingay Esq
Legal Director

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