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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348029512224 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- micheal.miller1@aliceadsl.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Barrister Micheal Miller <micheal.miller1@aliceadsl.fr>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:44:37 -0500
Subject: Urgent Business Proposal!!!
BARRISTER MICHEAL MILLER CHAMBERS
33, Awolowo Road, Victoria Island,
Lagos-Nigeria.
Telephone + 234-802-951-2224.
Dearest Friend,
I am a personal attorney to Late Engineer John, from your country who used to work with shell patrol chemical and Development Company in Nigeria, Herein after shall be referred to as my client an expatriate Who board a plane from the city of kano to the city Lagos in Nigeria, and unfortunately died with his entire family on Saturday, 4 May, 2002, in plane crash. Let me refer you to the front page of (BBC) World News of Saturday, 4 May 2002,). You can check it through their website at,
Since then, I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. 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 were lodged, particularly the Africa Development Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $13.2 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated after six years if not claimed and We have just this year left.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the SAME LAST NAME with him, so that the proceeds of this account valued at 13.2 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and i can share the money. Even as i have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, can be claimed by you and me. We can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. And these I must do to make sure that this consignment is not wasted or end up in the wrong hands.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Remember to include your private telephone, fax and mobile numbers for easy communication or you can call me for more clarifications 234-802-951-2224, for further correspondence regarding this business proposal, send your response to my private email: micheal.miller1@aliceadsl.fr
Yours faithfully,
Micheal Miller Esq.
Direct mobile no: +234-802-951-2224.
Private email: micheal.miller1@aliceadsl.fr
Anti-fraud resources:
