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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: "Barrister Larry Kopano Esq." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.kopanoesq@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2015 18:50:49 -0200
Subject: Urgent Inheritance Fund.

Dear Friend,
 
I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current
 
development. Please bear with me.My name is Barrister Larry Kopano, a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to late
 
Mr. Micheal Harris who died in Air France plane which disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean were Brazilians and French
 
nationals, airline officials said died along With his wife Mrs. Anne Harris on the  31May 2009 Air France plane with other
 
447 passengers on board (May their soul rest in peace).I know that my client had no living kin but I went ahead and made
 
several inquiries to their embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.
 
You can confirm this from the website below which was published by BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8077858.stm
 
I only did so to be double sure of this fact. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
 
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Warehouse where these huge deposits were
 
lodged, particularly in a UNICREDIT GROUP ITALY where the deceased had a consignment valued at about $25 Million Dollars, The
 
bank issued me a notice that in the event that no next of kin comes up for the claim, the deposit will be confiscated if not
 
claimed as it has accumulated enough demourage and we have just about few months.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years, now I seek your consent to present you as the next
 
of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this deposit valued at US$25 Million Dollars can be released to you and then
 
you and me can share the money in the mode. 60% shall be for me and 35% for you and 5% shall be map out for expanse that are
 
being made within the transfer.
 
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-
 
operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
 
protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please your telephone and fax number is urgently needed for further discussion.Please kindly get back to me on my direct
 
email (barr.kopanoesq@aol.com).
 
I look forward to your urgent response.
 
Best regards,
 
Barrister Larry Kopano Esq.

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