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: "Barr. Morgan Lopez, Esq."<lopezmorgan59@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2020 05:24:11 -0800
Subject: Dear Esteem Friend.


ttention: Dear Esteem Friend. I am Barr. Morgan Lopez, Legal practitioner i=
n Spain. I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client who died in Sp=
ain in March 2015; he was a prominent client of mine who happens to share t=
he same SURNAME and country with you. Before his death, my client deposited=
($3, 2 million USD) at a financial institution here in Spain, documentatio=
ns regarding these transaction indicates that claims can only be made by hi=
s relative/ family member. Unfortunately he had no will at the time of his =
death (Intestate). All efforts made revealed no link to any of his family m=
ember. However, because of the international financial crises, a lot of ref=
orm has been made within the Spanish Financial system; this includes the ne=
w law on succession/claims which indicates adulation of time in which such =
inheritance could be tolerated. The financial institution has mandated me t=
o present the next of kin or a relative who will claim the funds. Failure t=
o respond to this ultimatum would legally allow the financial institution r=
eport such funds to the Bank of Spain as unclaimed estate (which eventually=
means sending the funds straight to the Government purse). I have put in p=
lace all necessary requirements concerning the release of this funds and it=
is my intention to introduce this opportunity to you and have you stand as=
the beneficiary since you share the same surname and country with the dece=
ased. Please note that I=92m legally equipped with all necessary informatio=
n/documentations concerning this fund. Upon your acceptance to cooperate, I=
agree that 40% of this money will be for you, 40% for me and 20% goes to a=
ny acceptable charity organization in Spain or your country. For security &=
confidentiality reasons, I strongly advise that you first contact me via e=
mail. Immediately you get in touch with me with your contact details, I wou=
ld be able to inform you on more details and next steps. In conclusion, it=
=92s my utmost concern to demand your ultimate honesty, co-operation and co=
nfidentiality. I GUARANTEE that this process would be executed under a legi=
timate arrangement that would legally protect you from any breach of law. K=
ind Regards, Barr. Morgan Lopez, Esq. Morgan Lopez Consultants.

Anti-fraud resources: