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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: "Alex Morgan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexmorgan124567@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2016 05:54:01 -0700
Subject: GET BACK TO ME ASAP

Dear Friend
I would like to solicit for your cooperation in a transaction that involves the transfer of  US $6.8 million to your account for investment projects in your country and other  developments.
 
Introduction: My name is Alex Morgan, a lawyer by profession. I am the personal attorney to  Andrew Bush, a national of UK,hereinafter shall be referred to as my client.
 
Some time in 2012, my client, was shot and killed, i have been working on this funds as it  has not been assigned to any one.
 
Business Proposal: Before his death, he deposited US $6.8 million in a Financial Firm (name  withheld). After these several unsuccessful efforts, I decided to contact you because the  Financial Firm has issued me a notice to present his Next of Kin within the next 30 official  working days or have the funds declared unserviceable and returned to the treasury as  unclaimed in accordance with existing law/policy here in the UK. I am actually asking for  your consent to present you to the Financial Firm as the Next of Kin and business partner to  late Andrew Bush, so that the funds will be paid to you and then you and I can share the  money.
 
I shall provide all the legal documents if required to back up your claim as Next of Kin to  late Andrew Bush. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us achieve  this transaction. This proposition is entirely risk free and I will use my position as the  attorney to help you procure all the required legal papers which will give you full legal  protection anywhere in the world when the funds are wired to your account.
 
Please note: I am in the best position to arrange this transaction and i promise that all  the procedure will be carefully followed to make sure we have a hitch free transfer.
 
It is important we discuss further on the sharing ration when funds are confirmed in  your  account as you can reach me on my email.
 
Alex Morgan

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