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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: Maria Das Dores GOMES <apevond@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:31:38 -0500
Subject: Urgent response as soon as possible.

Please your private message.

Honestly, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have
not met, but please permit me to introduce myself to you.

I am Apevon Dodji, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to your late
relative, who used to live and work as a contractor
in Togo, West Africa. Here in after shall be referred to as my
client, who died some years ago in a fatal accident on 21st of April
2017, All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives and
has been buried. Since then I have made several inquiries here to
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to search
through with his name which motivated me to contact you, to locate any
member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at
US$ 5,500,000 (Five million five hundred thousand United States
Dollars) with 25 kg of gold bar, which was left behind by my client
before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security
Finance Firm (bank) where this huge amount were deposited. Now the
management under the influence of the bank Chairman and Members of the
Board of directors has made arrangement for the fund to be declared
Unclaimed so that they can
share the money among themselves.

They has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his
account confiscated within the next twenty one official working
days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 3
years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of
this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then
discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all
necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for
the claim.

All I required from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see
this transaction goes through. To commence this transaction, I require you
immediately to indicate your interest by a return e-mail and enclose the
following:

Names:........................
Age:..........................
Phone/Fax no:...........................
Nationality:..................
Private Email:..........................

Regards,
Urgent response as soon as possible.
Apevon Dodji Esq.
Telephone; +228990573396

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