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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: "Shang Lee Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shangleeesq@fm.bb>
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:50:29 +0100
Subject: Thank you for your consideration.

Dear Friend,
Thank you for responding to my email. I am happy reading from a person with the last name of my late client I had contacted you earlier through an informal and
unsecured public interaction medium, as there appear to be no choice left for me in reaching possible members of my late client's extended family. This did not
make me feel comfortable disclosing much information on my purpose of contacting you.
As I intend to communicate to you, my late client made an investment involving a sum of 6.8 million U.S. dollars initial deposit (funds set aside for his
business) in a fixed deposit with a commercial bank since 1995. I was contacted by the bank after the death of my late client to locate members of his extended
family who could be beneficiary or trustee to his abandoned personal assets. More so, I have received official letters in the past weeks, suggesting
proceedings for confiscation of his deposited funds in accordance with the existing laws, as it is assumed that no member of his extended family is alive.
After exhaustive search through the embassy and on professional consideration, I engaged a wide search with the assistance of an insider with the office of the
Chambers of Commerce here , to locate a credible person with this last name, who could apply for the release of this funds. I have contacted you on professional
consideration, as I know that you will be able to make this claim successfully and legitimately without any form of complications. I am here saying that the
procedure to be adopted in pursuing this claim is 100% legal. All I ask of you is to go about this claim as I will advise and we will be glad on this shortly.
I propose that 40% of the net sum will accrue to you at the conclusion of this deal in so far as I do not incur further expenses.
I will appreciate a verbal communication with you, so we can discuss in details.
You may send me your telephone number. Please advice on your schedule, so I know the best time to reach you.
Contact me through this email for further confidential correspondence:shangleeesq@fm.bb
Regards,
Shang Lee Esq



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