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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Phillip Mark" <barristerphillipmark@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:05:19 +0000
Subject: Dear;Mahoney (Please stand as next of kin)

FROM THE DESK OF
BARRISTER Phillip Mark
PLOT,205 OPEBI STREET
ALLEN AVENUE IKEJA
LAGOS STATE NIGERIA
EMAIL INFOR;barrphillip01@yahoo.co.uk

DEAR;MAHONEY.

Regards and compliments of the day. I sincerely hope that the business
proposal will not come to you as embarrassment, but rather a surprise, since
we neither know each other now or before nor had any correspondence or
contact. Please. Permit me to introduce myself to you.

I am Barrister phillip mark. I am a friend to MR.DAIVD MAHONEY, a national
of your country, who used to work with international clearing agency (I.C.A)
Nigeria. On 4th of May 2002, my friend, his wife and their only son were
involved in a Plane-crash while on a picnic-trip. Unfortunately, all
occupants of the plane lost their lives.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968300.stm
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/05/05/nigeria.crash/.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any
of my friend's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his name over
the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I
have contacted you to assist me in recovering the fund valued at US$18
million left behind by my friend before it gets confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm/bank where this huge amount were
deposited.

The said Security Finance Company/bank has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next twenty one
official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
since they have given me order to fine any person that have the same last
names with him or any relative to him or the same country with my friend
that can be able to stand as the next of kin, 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 my privet
email address: barrphillip01@yahoo.co.uk

Best regard.
Barr; phillip mark



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