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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: "Lester Stuart" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stuartlester71@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 07:35:37 -0500
Subject: Dear Sir.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Lester Stuart, A Private Investment Manager to the late Mr. Lubos Sebas, hereinafter referred to as my client' who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country and died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 4th of Oct., 2011.

Since the death of my client in Oct., 2011, I have written several letters to the embassy with intent to locate any of his extended family member whom shall be claimant/beneficiary of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail.

More so, I have received official letters in the last few weeks suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws by the bank in which my client deposited the sum of Thirty (30) Million Dollars. On this note I decided to search for a credible person that I may present to the "trustee" Bank as my late client’s surviving family member in that capacity as a next of kin of my client. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased as he has no next of kin.This is to enable us salvage the proceeds of his account and get it paid to you instead.

I propose that 35% of the net sum will accrue to you at the conclusion of this transaction, while 65% shall be mine.

Upon the receipt of your positive response, I will send you by E-mail the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the necessary arrangements have been made for the smooth completion of this transfer. I require only a solemn confidentiality.

Best regards,

Lester Stuart.
Email: stuartlester71@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: