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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: "THAMI T. WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.thami001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:14:12 +0200
Subject: THAMI T. WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES.

THAMI T. WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES
(Solicitors & Arbitrators)
Suite # 34, Carlton Centre,
130 Choler Street Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tel: +27-786027683
Fax: +27-115-075-428



Attention: Beneficiary!!!


Compliments, I am Barrister Thami T. Williams; I have decided to bestow this trust on you, which I pray you will not ignore or betray. I apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause you. I am the Personal Attorney to late Engineer. P. B.Corcoran, who was a contractor here in Republic of South Africa. He died on December 2003, with his entire family in Air -Crash on board from Cotonou.View the below site for more information;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm


As a matter of fact, My client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at (USD$30.5M) with First National Bank of South Africa, and upon the duration time of the said deposit with the Bank last Month, the Bank gave me a notice of approval as late Engineer. P. B.Corcoran to provide his next of kin or relative for the claim of the said deposited fund or have his account confiscated inline with the Bank regulation on fixed assets.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives and that has proved Unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate my late client’s relatives, I decided to track His last name over the internet, to locate any member of his Family this also proved Unsuccessful, Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over four years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since none of his relatives were no where to be found so that the proceeds of this account valued at $30.5M could be transferred into your account; thereafter, we will both share the proceeds of the estate 5O%-50%.


I have all the necessary information and legal right to claim the funds with anyone I present to the holding Bank of the assets as my late client’s next of kin. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us making this great mutual transaction success. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Kindly get back to me if you are interested with the offer and please give me your telephone number where I can reach you to discuss one on one with you regarding to this proposition.


Please for privacy reply to my private e-mail or fax me with the above contacts or better still you can give me a call for us to discuss this proposition.


Yours faithfully,
Mr. Thami T. Williams (Esq.)

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