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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "paul james" <barr_pauljames05@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 01 Jul 2005 15:34:24 +0000
Subject: INHRITANCE FUND

FROM BARR.PAUL JAMES.
FROM ROYAL CHAMBERS
14,RUE DE BOULEVARD,
EMAIL:pauljames05@yahoo.com
LOME TOGO.

Dear SIR/MADAM,

I am Barrister PAUL JAMES, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to one of
my late client,a national Of your country, who used to work with Shell
Development Company in Republic of Togo. Here in after shall be referred to
as my client. On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only
daughter were involved in auto crash along ecowas express road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have
made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

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 repartrating the fund valued at
US$30.million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or
declared unserviceable by the Gold Trust Bank where this huge amount was
deposited. The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin
or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one official working
days. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over
2years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this
account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.I have all necessary information
and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you
is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me through
this email for more details.

Best regards.

Barr. PAUL JAMES

_________________________________________________________________
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