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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: "Jan Peters" <janpeter@peters.com>
Reply-To: "Jan Peters" <janpeters0088@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:10:38 -0700
Subject: Send me an email



Hello,

We have not met before but learning about you, I write you this email for our mutual benefit!!!
I am a Legal practitioner. I was the Personal Attorney & the Sole Executor to the Estate of my Late Client Mr. Lopes Sandoz, who worked as an Independent Oil Merchant in COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN before he died in a car crash along with his immediate family on the 20th of December 2006. The incident was quite pathetic! Since after his death I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any of my late clients extended relatives but it has proved unsuccessful. I carried out a search on you over the internet; therefore I am contacting you for a business deal!

I want you to stand as the relative to the deceased, and claim the money my client (the deceased) left behind before the bank here in Ghana where the Money were Deposited declares the fund unserviceable! The Bank has called my attention that I have 21 days in which I am to provide the next of kin/Beneficiary to the residue of his account.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over Four years now, I seek your consent to present you to the Management of this bank as my Client's beneficiary so that the proceeds of this deposit (Money) valued at (US$17,500,000) Seventeen million five hundred thousand dollars can be claimed by you and then you and I will share the money in the ratio: 50:50.
I want to assure you that I have all the requirements to execute this Claim and I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. All I require is your honest cooperation and secrecy to enable us get this deal through. It was possible to send you this letter while in Switzerland during my conference meeting. Please if you are interested; get back to me as soon as possible so that I will provide you with further information on the next step...

Sincerely
Barrister Jan Peters

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