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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 Austin Goodman." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristergoodman2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:21:46 -0700
Subject: Greetings, please i wait your reply?

Attention: Sir/Madam,
 
I am Barrister Austin Goodman, an attorney at law. I discovered your
email and information through internet search so I decided to contact
you.
 
A deceased client of mine who died as the result of a heart-related
condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart condition was due to the
death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes
in Persian Gulf near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as
reported on http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html
 
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind
by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this deposit valued at TEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND
BRITISH POUNDS STERLING.(10,600.000.00 BRITISH POUNDS STERLING) is
lodged, this bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin,
or the account will be confiscated.
 
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client, so that the proceeds of
this fund can be paid to you, then we can share the amount on a
mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your
claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is
your honest and your maximum cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through successfully. This will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the
law.
 
If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my
apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the
utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential,
whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.
 
Please if you are ready to work with me kindly provide me with all
this important information’s through my
Email:barristergoodman2@yahoo.co.jp so we
can proceed immediately:
 
1. Your full name and contact address...............................
2. Your cell phone/fax......................................
3. Your occupation and age................................
4. A scan copy of your identity...........................
 
I look forward to hearing from you immediately.
 
 
Yours Truly,
 
Barrister Austin Goodman
(Attorney at Law).
Tel: +44-703-5944513
Email:barristergoodman2@yahoo.co.jp

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