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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: "Odd Vorhaug" <odd@teamconsult.no>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:09:37 +0200
Subject: VS: [SPAM]: Dearest friend



-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Barrister Meindle J. Tikoti [mailto:hassanabu@hotmailo.co.uk]
Sendt: 21. juni 2010 20:20
Til: odd@teamconsult.no
Emne: [SPAM]: Dearest friend


Dearest friend,


First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue
of its nature as being confidential I am assuring you that all will be well
at the end of this profitable transaction. I am Barrister Meindle J. Tikoti,
a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to Mr. Frederick M. Wong who
died in an air crash along With his wife Mrs. Lilla C. Wong on his business
trip to North America in an Egyptian airline 990 with other passengers on
board (May their gentle soul rest in perfect peace in the name of Almighty
God Amen.

I strongly believe that my client has no living kin to inherit all his
properties, but I went ahead and made several research to their embassy in
other to locate any of my clients extended relatives but all my effort
proved unsuccessfully.


I did all that to be truly sure of the fact. I have contacted you as a
reliable and reputable someone to assist in repatriations the money and
property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged, valued at
about US$25 Million. The bank has officially notify me the account will be
confiscated after Six years if not claimed by any living next of kin and we
have just about few months now.


Moreover, I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for five and
half years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$25 Million
Dollars can be paid into your nominated bank account. You and I will share
the money in this mode, 45% will be for you and 45% shall be for me the
remaining 10% to offset any expenses done by each party cause in business
every cent spent counts.


However, I promise to assist you to secure all the legal documents that will
serve as an instrument of evidence to back up any claim we may make. I
require from you is honest co-operation to enable us to see that this deal
come to success. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any branch of the law.


Please get in touch with me with your personal data as soon as you
acknowledged the receipt of this email.


1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address.
4. Sex
5. Occupation
6. Age
7.Marital Status
8. Country

I will be waiting to hearing from you as soon as you are in receipt of this
email.

Best regards,
Barrister Meindle J. Tikoti



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