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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: Embassy of the United States of America
Reply-To: <barristerfrankwilliams23@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:33:42 -0800
Subject: Urgent Proposal


Hello friends,
I have contacted you because I have carried out research into a dormant a=
ccount of a deceased client at the financial institute where I presently au=
dit its accounts; here in the United State and the client have no heirs. Th=
e account has a significant amount of money in it. An account is judged to =
be dormant if there has been no activity in it, or contact with the client,=
for 15 years. Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without =
leaving a will and there's no known heir to inherit. The treasury departmen=
t receives the unclaimed money unless, a previously unknown distant relativ=
e, comes and puts a claim on it; which is usually within a limited time fra=
me.
The United State Treasury Department receives over $100 Billiondollars eve=
ry year from unclaimed estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares and dorma=
nt accounts and some of it could be ours if we can work together as I can p=
rovide all relevant documents and information. We could present you as the =
next of kin to deceased, as laid out in section 46 of the Administration of=
Estates Act of 1925 (with subsequent amendments) if you agree to work with=
me.
=

I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which will cover the disbu=
rsement aspect of funds. Furthermore, you will have to sign a consent form =
that gives the lawyer power of attorney to represent you at the probate off=
ice (for the Procurement of the Grant of Probate). The amount in question c=
urrently stands at $5,000,000.00 (Five million United State Dollars only).
At the closure of this transaction, 40% of the total funds will be yours a=
fter total expenses. So, if you would like to team up with me discreetly to=
secure these funds for ourselves, please have your full information sent t=
o me which include, full name, address, age, occupation and contact number(=
s).
=

I await your careful considered answer as when we proceed we cannot stop ha=
lf way, as this is one in a life time opportunity to go big.
Sincerely,
Frank Williams
Frank & Williams Co Auditors


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