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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: "martins ahams" <martins_ahams@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:46:12 -0500
Subject: URGENT TRUST


From Barr. Martins Ahams.
J.D & Associate Chambers
Plot 12 Abiodu Cresent, Ikoyi
EMAIL: martins_ahams@yahoo.com

Dear Sir,

I am barrister martins ahams, a solicitor at law and the personal attorney
to late Client, a national of your country, who was a private contractor
with the Shell Development Company in Nigeria, herein after referred to as
my client. On the 21st of April 2003, he and his wife and their three
children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express road, all
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have
made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended
relatives but without success.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name
to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I contacted you to
assist me in repatriating the fund and property left behind by my client
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
these huge deposits were lodged. The deceased who was my client had an
account valued at about US$18 Million and the bank has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated and transferred into
the Federal Government Suspense Reserved Account.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of my clients extended
relatives almost three(3) years now, I therefore 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 US$18 Million can be
paid to you for our mutual benefit. I have all necessary legal documents to
influlence all procedures to this effect. I have agreed to offer you 30% of
the total sum for your assistance. All I require is your honest co-operation
to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I against
any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me urgently if you are interested with my proposal
to enable us proceed. please also include your fax and phone number for
easy communication

N:B, Please, kindly handle this business proposal with utmost secrecy for
our best interest and for security reasons.

Thanks for your mutual understanding.

Best regards,
Barr. Martins Ahams Esq.



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