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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: "Mr.Michael K" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <privatematter@naver.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2019 05:58:18 -0700
Subject: From: Mr.Michael Kent

Good day
 
My name is Michael Kent Esq. principal attorney Kent & Brooks Associates. I am compelled to contact you through this medium considering the urgency needed for your attention.
 
My deceased client who bears similar surname with you died intestate in the year 2007 and since after his death all my effort to locate any of his family relative proved abortive. The bank where the money is deposited have given me a 30 days ultimatum to present my client's next of kin. My failure to present my late clients next of kin will leave the bank with no other choice than to call the funds into the bank treasury as unclaimed bills.
 
In view of the above explanations, I contacted you to pose as my late client's relative and next of kin to enable the bank transfer the funds to you and after the transfer we share the money 50% for you and 50% for me.
 
If you are ready to work with me, I will need the copy of your driver's license or int'l passport with your physical address to enable me profile your name legally as the next of kin and beneficiary of my late client's deposited fund.
 
The steps I need to take is to make a statutory declaration by swearing an affidavit of oath at the High Court of Justice on your name as the family representative and next of kin to my deceased client. I will then submit the death certificate and the affidavit of oath documents to the Probate Registry for endorsement to enable them direct the bank to transfer the funds to you. This whole process will take me 3 working days to complete.
 
I want to assure you that this transaction will not bring us any trouble now and after the transfer because after my extensive enquiry I am convinced beyond every reasonable doubt that my client have no living relative and nobody will ever come for this funds.
 
I look forward to your reply.Please copy to:{ pvc.read111@gmail.com }
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Barr. Michael Kent
 

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