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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: piet vandermerwe <pietvandermerwe00@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 08:51:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Barrister Piet Vandermerwe


Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I am Barrister Piet Vandermerwe From Johannesburg South  Africa, Advocate at Law (SA)

 

I am the personal Lawyer to Late Bruce McMillan a citizen of U.S.A, Working in an Gold Minning company here in South Africa  referred to as my client, On April 3rd 2009, my client, his wife, and their two children were involved in a car accident along the N1 express way South Africa. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

 

Since then I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to assist in repatriating the money my late client left behind before they Get confiscated or declared un serviceable by the Bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the First National Bank of South Africa Where the deceased had an escrow suspense contract account Valued at about(US$5.5million dollars)

 

The First National Bank has Issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years now, Due to this notice from the bank I decide to seek your consent to Present you as the Next Of Kin of the deceased, So that this account valued at (US$5.5 million dollars) can be paid to you and then You and Me Can share the money, 55% to Me and 40% to You while 5% for any expenses.

 

 All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. you can write to my private email addressfor more details....waiting for your urgent response.

 

Yours sincerely,

Barrister Piet Vandermerwe

 


 

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