joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: Mark Richard <barr.markrichard@gmail.com>
Reply-To: markrichardtg@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 30 May 2019 11:08:23 +0000
Subject: hello

Dear Friend,


I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a
relationship but I believe knowing each other starts from a step of which I
believe I am not making a mistake exposing this very important business
deal to you?


Firstly, let me identify myself without any intention of equivocation,


I am Mark Richard a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Engr.
Gilbert a real native of your country all so has the same surname as you,
who used to work with Total Gas Servicing Company here in my country. Here
in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2016, my
client and his wife were involved in a car accident. All occupants of the
vehicle, unfortunately, lost their lives.

Since then I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and
property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposited. The total sum is $7.9
million dollars.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over years now
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since
you have the same last name with my late client, so that the proceeds of
this funds in the bank valued at $7.9 million dollars can be paid to you
and then you and I can share the money 50%/50%. I have all necessary legal
documents as the lawyer that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this
transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I
have also informed the bank about this that I have found the Beneficiary,
they won't be a problem in getting the fund to you.

Please, I would like you to get back to me signifying your interest so that
I can open full communication with you.

Mark Richard

Anti-fraud resources: