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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: "John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jhnbrwn954@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 02:17:46 +0200
Subject: *Re:Read carefully*

Dear friend,
 
I introduce myself as John Brown, Legal Executive from the Bar Council, United Kingdom. I represent the interest of a deceased client who happens to be a national of your country. Until his untimely death, he worked as a private contractor with the United Nation. Prior to his demise, he confided in me with documents of his investment with a private bank. He made a fix deposit with the bank and made a philanthropic will of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (US$10,500,000.00) which was meant to be donated to charity groups to support the less privilege.
 
Since his demise, I have received several memos from the corresponding bank requesting for the beneficiary to receive the funds on his behalf as the next of kin. After several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family, I had to make this contact with you, seeking for your partnership in retrieving his entitlement before the bank confiscate the funds or declare the account unserviceable.
 
 
The entire process is legal and risk free, I therefore seek your partnership and diligent follow-up to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, In this case the proceeds of the account valued at US$10,500,000.00 Million shall be paid in full to you. Please be informed that the bank will approve of whomever I present before them with document. Please this is no hoax but a legitimate proposal aimed at saving life while being of service to humanity. As soon as I receive your email with full support in this course, I shall send you more information. Please if you have any question, do not hesitate to contact me on this email. You shall  receive 30% of the total transferable amount for your services while I shall receive 30% , the balance 40% you shall disburse to any charity organization that cater for orphans and the less privileged.
 
You are required to send your full names, address, phone and fax numbers respectively to enable me open your file and forward same to the bank for validation and processing. The entire process shouldn't take more than 10 business days. As soon as I receive your email to partner with me in this transaction, I shall send you more information initiating the entire process toward a swift conclusion. If you find yourself able and willing to work with me in this transaction, do not hesitate to contact me with the above information.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
John Brown
Legal Executive
Bar Council
United Kingdom
 

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