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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: "Mr Vincent Mann" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <scottniels45@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2022 00:05:32 -0700
Subject: Business Request!

Dear Sir
 
I have sent you several emails since last week, I am resending this to you again for urgent attention. My client from your country Which I think is your relative, died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic here on the 19th of January 2020 and left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still with me.
 
All efforts made by me to trace his Next of Kin proved abortive because he did not make any will prior to his death. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate family  members of my late clients and this has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family, I decided to trace my client's last name through the internet. Luckily I discovered your email.
I am contacting you to assist in claiming the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unclaimed by the Bank where this huge deposit was deposited, Bank has given me the notice to provide the next of kin to claim the fund, Consequent upon this, my idea is that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally with your name as the bonafide beneficiary of the amount in question as I have all legal document to back our claim, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin/beneficiary of the funds/.
 
Kindly provide the following information so we can get to the next step.
 
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Age and Date of Birth:
4. Occupation:
5. Phone number:
6. State of Origin Country:
 
The above required information will be used to prepare an application on your behalf as your Legal Counsel representing this claim legally. Upon your response, more details will be given to you such as the amount involve and the % you are getting for your efforts,
 
i wait for your reply
 
Regards,
 
Mr. Vincent Mann
10 GEORGE STREET, E14
Canary Wharf
London, UK

Anti-fraud resources: