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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: "otero perez jose" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oteroperezjose2011@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 19:06:30 +0200
Subject: Case 389402-43

In regards to: Asset Bequest to You.
Good Day

My name is Otero Perez Jose and am the Chief Solicitor in Otero & Fernendez Asociados a
Private legal Business & Tax Law Firm in Marbella, Spain. Currently my firm is
carrying out a standard process financial review for the third quarter of the
year 2010.During the course of this exercise I have come across our late client's(name with-held for security reasons.Will only be revealed upon reception of a valid reply from intended recipient.)file that bears an agreement form he signed with an Investment Company (Generali Seguros,Marbella)
placing a beneficiary with exactly the same name as yours in the next of kin column.
This file contains a certificate for a convertible bond Deposit he made with the
Investment Company here in Marbella,Spain. This Bonded Investment has a surface value of
Seven Hundred Thousand Euros(Nine Hundred and Fourty four Thousand Euros),which as secured against property ownership in country of residence,
that has long matured for payment with its accrued interest.
But for his absence has not been paid by the Investment Company who have
confessed that no one has come forward to make claims when I confronted them in
request for reasons this payment has not been made.
It is pertinent you note that; my late client who shares same surname with you
died intestate.Since this is his personal Investment Plan.The beneficiary with your exact name has
legally been nominated as the only successor in title over his investment with
this Company. This is why it is vital at all times to specify next of Kin in all
financial transactions that require forms, documentation, application or
agreement.

Being the legal executor of this Financial Review and Auditing, I will see to
this legal wish of my late client and process to place you in a position that
will instruct the Investment firm to release the deposit to you as the
beneficiary of this Inheritance.Due to the high priority surrounding this
bequest in terms of its value. It is only fair that the Probate law which
provides uncertainty of the original owner's absence, that Assets be transferred
to his kin as the law provides.

You shall be nominated as the next of kin and through my office; I will have
them release the deposit to you by carrying out the necessary legal procedures
to transfer ownership of Inheritance to you. I assure you that the deposit and
release of these Funds to you will be done within 5 bank working days.
You have to be aware of the need for confidentiality in this letter, owing to
the fact that Inheritance information are highly secured to avoid wrong claimant
or third party interest. It is pertinent that I protect
this Asset and any information surrounding this claim till it gets to you
completely. So avoid revealing the contents of this message to any third party .

A convenient International money transfer medium that will protect you from
breach of law will be initiated in line with Probate validation of ownership
transfer to you. Please reply to (oteroperezjose@europe.com) with your updated contact details, number and address .
I expect that you keep the contents of this mail private and respect the integrity of the information revealed to you herein.

Cordially,
Otero Perez Jose.
Chief Legal Officer
Otero & Perez Asociados
Business & Tax Law Firm ,Marbella, Spain
oteroperezjose@europe.com
Phone: +34 634 141 120
Fax 0034 917 903 684

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