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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: "Christopher Buttler" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <myer2009@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2016 23:04:36 +0200
Subject: May I take this opportunity for thanking you in advance for your cooperation!


Matrix Chambers
Barristers & Solicitor's
London, United Kingdom.

OFFICIALLY DIRECTED TO YOU

Hello, I am Barr. Christopher Buttler, a legal practitioner based in London UK. I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition, although this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I chose to reach you here because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. Please note that this message is not a hoax mail and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it well deserves.

I am the personal attorney to Late Mr. Zhang Yiyou, a Chinese businessman based in London UK who was a business owner in London UK and Asia, unfortunately my client lost his life amongst others aboard Malaysia Airline 777-200ER, which crashed in the eastern Ukraine, close to the border with Russia, 17 July 2014 (Please read for more details of his death (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28360827) He left no clear beneficiary as next of kin, except some vital documents related to his deposited fund with China Citic Bank, China that are still within my reach, he did not make any WILL prior to his death.

I have made several attempts to locate any of my late client's extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful. And after series of unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family have failed hence I contacted you for this deal. I am contacting you to assist in claiming and receiving the fund left behind by Late MR. ZHANG YIYOU before they get confiscated or declared unclaimed by the BANK in China where this huge fund was deposited. The said fund is valued at Five Million Five Hundred And Twenty Thousand United State Dollars Only ($5,520,000.00). The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin and beneficiary to the deceased client or have his fund confiscated within three months of notification.

However, my idea is that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally in your name as the confiding bona fide beneficiary to the deceased so as to enable us to have possession to this deposited fund because I have all legal documents to back our claims successfully.

I seek your consent and indulgence to present you as the next of kin/beneficiary to Late MR. ZHANG YIYOU so that the proceeds of his deposit valued at Five Million Five Hundred And Twenty Thousand United State Dollars Only ($5,520,000.00) can be paid to you by Citic Bank of China and it will be shared on agreed ratio, 40% of this money will be given to you in respect of your assistance and 60% would be for me even as I have the plan to meet you as soon as the transaction is completed.

I guarantee that this transaction will be executed duly under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the laws. All I need from you is your utmost collaboration; courage and sincerity to enable us thrive on this deal promptly and without the consent of my colleagues in the chamber here.

Please indicate your full interest to partner with me privately in this business once you receive this message for confidential purpose and please send your full name, telephone/fax number and address so that we can discuss further on this transaction as soon as you can. Thank you.

Regards,

Barr. Christopher Buttler.

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