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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: "Amelia Jacob" <greekweek@mail.com>
Reply-To: amelijacobs@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 02:59:46 -0700
Subject: Immediate Attention needed


- This mail is a HTML mail. Not all elements could be shown in plain text mode. -

Attention:
Greetings to you.
I am Ms. Amelia Jacob, Partner Benson &amp; Associates (EQUITY CHAMBERS). I need your urgent and very confidential approach to this proposition.
On January 6,2011, my client a Foreign Consultant/Contractor with the Ashanti Anglo Gold company,Mr. Mark Winston made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million United States Dollars).
Upon maturity of his deposit, the chambers got a routine notification from the Finance House which was sent to his forwarding address.After a month, we got a reminder from the Finance House and I had to verify his where about from his contract employers, the Gold Company.
Unfortunately, I was informed by the Gold Company that my client died from an automobile accident about a month to the first letter from the Finance
House.As his legal representative, I know that my client died without making a WILL, and all my attempts to trace his next of kin has been
fruitless.Furthermore, as his attorney, I am aware that he did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his
Depository Form with the Finance House.According to Ghana Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of my late client so that the proceeds of this account valued at 12 million dollars (minus incurred interest)can be paid to you.I will expect you to use your human discretion in sharing the funds
when it's been transferred into your custody.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through particularly your words of honor not
to sit on the funds when it's in your control. Please!
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.
I wait to hear from you soon. Have a nice day.
Thank you.
Ms Amelia Jacob

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