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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER PETER SMITH" <petersmith777@web2mail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: barrpetersmith77@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 07:59:53 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT





VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT

Dear Friend,

Am sorry for bumping into your privacy, let me start by introducing
myself, I am
BARRISTER PETER SMITH (SAN) .I got your e-mail from my private search of
reputable people, I am an attorney and I have a client who is interested in
investing some good money in your country. My client is a very important and
prominent person who has mandated me to contact you for a very important
business transaction. My client is by name Mrs. Maryam Abacha and she is the
wife of a Late Military head of state in my country. Her husband Late General
Sanni Abacha made a lot of money through Oil proceeds during his tenure in
office. In fact it was discovered after his death that he was worth well over
$4.5 billion in United State Dollars and some of this money were retrieving
after he died while some was recovered from officials that served under him
during his reign as Military Head of State. The truth of this case is that my
client despite the problem she is going through now, she still has a lot of
money in her possession, which she intends to invest outside our country.

What my client need from you now is reliable account where she can
transfer some money but mind you, all the money in her possessions
cannotleave
at once because she need to build confidence and trust. In someone who
would not
expose her plan to remit and possibly invest in your company, so she has
agreed
that I should make arrangements for the
transfer of $69.5 million United States dollars and you are free to
negotiate your mode of compensation even as she intends to invest the
money in your country. Please, do not hesitate to indicate your view of
this request by contacting me immediately you receive this e-mail so that the
necessary arrangements can be made for the money to
leave immediately.

You are required to provide the following information below:
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE /MOBILE AND OFFICE TELEPHONE. NUMBERS.
4. PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION (A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE, DRIVERS LICENCE OR
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT)
5. AGE:
6. OCCUPATION:

Due to the present situation of my client, I would be happy if this
request can be kept secret and strictly confidential. I would also like to
note
that there is no risk involved at all because I would provide all the legal
tenders binding it all.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks and Best regards,
Barrister Peter Smith. (SAN)
Tel. +234 80 5425 6883 .

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