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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: "MARK paul" <barr_office_11@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_office_11@latinmail.com
Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 13:25:15 +0000
Subject: WITH TRUST

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM BARRISTER MACK PAUL, THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO LATE, HER EXCELLENCY
CHIEF (MRS) STELLA OBASANJO THE WIFE OF OUR PRESIDENT WHO DIED IN SPAIN
DATED 23/10/2005.WE HAVE JUST CONCLUDED HER BURIAL CEREMONY BEING SUNDAY
DATE (30/10/2005). KINDLY VIEW HER DEATH WEBSITE FOR CONFIRMATION
(WWW.STELLAOBASANJO.MEMORY-OF.COM).

HOWEVER THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TOTALLING ($ 10. 5 MILLION U.S.
DOLLARS) WHICH SHE DEPOSITED SECRETLY IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN EUROPE AND
SHE GAVE ME THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT AS THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY. DUE TO
HER SUDDEN DEATH NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS MONEY EXCEPT ME, I NEED SOMEONE
WHO IS A FORINGNER TO CLIAM THIS FUND BECAUSE IN THE DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE
SHE INCLUDE THAT THE FUND WILL ONLY BE RELEASED TO HER OR A FOREIGN
BUSINESS PARTNER, PLEASE I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN SIMPLE COMPLY WITH ME
AND ACT AS THE PERSON SINCE BOTH OF YOU HAVE THE SAME LAST NAME AND THE
PERSON HAS NOT RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME
BEFORE HER DEMISE THAT AS SOON AS SHE COMES BACK FROM SPAIN THAT SHE WILL
INSTRUCT ME TO SEND A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE TO THE PERSON. BUT DUE TO HER
SUDDEN DEATH, I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT KNOWS ABOUT IT. I WILL APPRECIATE IF
YOU COULD REPLY URGENT SO THAT I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ON HOW YOU WILL
CLAIM THE FUND.

I SHALL COMPENSATING YOU WITH 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM AFTER THE THE FUND HAS
BEING TRANSFERED TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT.

BEST REGARDS,
MACK PAUL. ESQ


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