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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: Phillip Adams ESQ <ihekire.benedith@yandex.com>
Reply-To: Phillip Adams ESQ <phillipesq_a@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 02:58:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I am waiting for your prompt response


Phillip Adams, Esq.
3, Rue du Gouverneur Fourn 08 BP 799
Cotonou, Republic of Benin

Dear Friend,

I
humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail, and if the
content does not meet with your personal and business ethics, I wish to
apologize in advance. My name is Barrister Phillip Adams, Esq. I am the
personal attorney to a late national of your country who was an oil
merchant here in Republic of Benin. On the 27th of April, 2010 my client
was involved in a car accident here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin and
unfortunately lost his life in the event of the crash. Since then I have
made several inquiry to locate any of his direct relatives but to no
avail.

Prior to the accident that claimed his life, my client was
operating a bank account here with a cash balance of US$7.5Million
(Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and which
has remained unclaimed till date. Basically, the reason I have contacted
you is because the bank where the decease had the account has now
issued me a notice to provide his next of kin within the next one month
or they will have no option than to declare the account unserviceable
and confiscate the funds. Therefore, since I have not been successful
with locating or rather tracing any of his direct relative till date, I
wish to seek your consent to present your name as the next of kin of the
deceased since you answer same surname and from the same country with
him, so that the funds will be transferred to you as the beneficiary and
then you and I will share the funds than allowing the bank to
confiscate the huge amount. Fortunately, whether you are a direct
relative of him or not is never a barrier to the success of the claim
procedure.

Upon your acceptance and return mail, the process of
claim is very simple and not complicated nor risky to your involvement.
We shall acquire legal documents that will be used to backup this funds
claim in your name as the next of kin/beneficiary of the funds. Hence,
it will be necessary that you give me your honest co-operation and
assistance to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you
that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement in
accordance with the inheritance claim act here, but more importantly,
be rest assured that you are not breaking any law or under any risk
whatsoever. Therefore, kindly get back to me and provide me with your
information for the documentation purposes: YOUR FULL NAMES, YOUR
ADDRESS, YOUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER, YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION. NOTE:
After a successful claim and transfer of the funds to the bank account
which you will provide, you and I will share the funds at the rate of
50% for me and 50% for you as settlement for your assistance and
cooperation.

Regards,
Phillip Adams, Esq

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