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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: Barrister Khumalo Zola <hamiltonltnicholas@gmail.com>
Reply-To: esq.khumalo.zll@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2023 23:56:18 -0700
Subject: From Barrister Khumalo Zola.

From Barrister Khumalo Zola.

Email: esq.khumalo.zll@gmail.com
esq.khumalo.zllo@consultant.com


Dear Joyce Ostler

I am Barrister Khumalo Zola, a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to Mr. Mark Ostler, a national of your country, who used to
work with Shell - a development company in South Africa.

On the 21st of April 2021, my client, his wife and their three
children were involved in a car accident along N1 Express road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients' extended relatives.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last
name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you.

I have contacted 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 these huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account
valued at about US$17.2 million dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the
next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives for over
2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of
this account valued at USD17.2 million dollars can be paid to you and
then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you. I have
all necessary legal documents 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 deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch
with me by email and send me your telephone and fax numbers to enable
us to discuss this transaction.

Best regards,

Barrister Khumalo Zola.

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