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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: "UTILITY CHAMBER" <utilitychambers2@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:41:31 +0000
Subject: COMFIRM AND GETB BACK TO ME

Barrister Johnson Okoh.
Utility Chambers Esq.
Equity House, BLK5 4TH FLOOR MAIN LAND LAGOS.
Note: strictly send your reply to this email address:
utilitychambers@myway.com

ATTN;
I am Barrister JOHNSON OKOH a solicitor at law. I am the personal
Attorney to MR WILLAIMS FIELD,a national of your country, who
lived in Nigeria.
Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the Thursday,
December 25, 2003,my client, was involved in a PLANE CRASH.This
occurred Thursday afternoon as the Boeing 727 took off from the
airport in Cotonou, Benin's commercial capital on the shores
of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ill-fated plane was boundfor Beirut, Lebanon.My client was
travelling to Beirut on the single reason of visiting his
Inlaws.His wife{A LEBANESE} and their only daughter
were involved in the crash and were among the 111 people
confirmed dead.Since then I have made several inquiries from your embassy
here to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has proved
unsuccessful.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and
property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits was
lodged.Particularly, the UNION BANK PLC where the deceased had an account
valued at about$15 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next six months.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over
2years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased so that the proceeds of thisaccount valued at$15 million
dollars can be paid to you.If you agree we can discuss your percentage.I
have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we
may make.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Awaiting your response.
PLEASE VIEW THE WEBSITE:
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
for your confirmations.
Best regards,
Barrister Johnson Okoh.
Utility Chambers Esq.
Equity House, BLK5 4TH FLOOR MAIN LAND LAGOS.
Note: strictly send your reply to this email address:
utilitychambers@myway.com


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