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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: colin marem <colinmarem@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 08:50:42 +0100
Subject: Did you get my first email?


ENG. COLIN MAREM
London
private email: colinmarem@netscape.net
28-6-2006

Dear Friend,
Firstly, this is not to cause you any embarrassment, I am Engineer COLIN MAREM, a personal friend and business associate to late Mr. Mark Michelle(untill his death) a National of France, who used to be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Saudi Arabia, herein after shall be referred to as my Friend. On the 21st of May 2004, he and his wife with their three children were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several enquiries with his country embassies to locate any of his extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you with this proposal.
I am contacing you to assist in repatriating this huge amount of money left behind by my friend before the Bank get it confiscated or declared unserviceable by the BANK where these huge deposit is lodged.
The deceased had a deposit presently valued USD 9 million which I am aware of and the BANK has issued to his personal attorney a notice to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by WILL otherwise have the account confiscated within the next thirty official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now as well as the attorney, I therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin and Beneficiary to
the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD 9 Million can be paid to you.
Don't worry how this is going to be done. If you are williness to do this with me, I will give you the contact informations of the attorney, so that you can contact him directly, presenting yourself to him as the relative of his late client. And the attorney will now present you to the bank as the next of Kin and then, the proceedings for the transfer will commence .
This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 55% for me 30% to you,10% for charity organizations while the balance 5% will be set aside for any expences. All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I am presently in London and I ask for your cooperation to provide me the following information:
1. Your full name
2. your telephone/mobile and fax numbers
3. your home or office Address.
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,
Engineer colin marem.

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