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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 Johnson Okafor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjohnokafor45@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:32:47 -0700
Subject: Hello

Barrister Johnson Okafor Associates
(LEGAL PRACTITIONERS)
# 34 ELEGBATA STREET
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
 
 
With compliments and respect please I beg your pardon for this unsolicited nature, it was was out of desperation and Curiosity that made me to contact you, to introduce myself, I am Barrister Johnson Okafor, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr.Thompson, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) here in Nigeria, is referred to as my trusted client. On Sunday, 27th of January 2002, my client, his wife {Lady Anna and their three children {Elizbeth,Dexter and James} were involved in terrible bomb blast that took live of innocent souls and unfortunately over 1000, people lost their lives and my client and his family were part of this people that lost their lives.In view of this please view the web page below
 
 
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm>
 
 
Since then I have made several enqueries to your embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family or any close name to his, hence I contacted you. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get liquidated or declared Unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the UNION BANK PLC where the deceased had his account valued precisely to the tune of USD$18. million dollars} The bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account liquidated within the next twenty one official working days.
 
 
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a national of same country to stand in as the next of kin, so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some group of corrupt government officials who will get rid of the money and share it for their own selfish interest and greed. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over the years now, I seek your prompt consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$18, Million can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money according to any agreed ratio. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. please get in touch with me by my personal Email address to enable us discuss further. Email: barristerjohnokafor45@gmail.com &nbs! p;     &n
 
 
Regards,
Barrister Johnson Okafor.
Direct Tel: +2348058654880.
 

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