joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "PHILIP NGUYEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <yg23411@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2017 04:22:01 -0500
Subject: My regards to the family.

Hello Friend,
 
I know this may come to you as a surprise, but it is with a sincere and humble heart that I am making this contact for our mutual benefit.
 
My name is Mr. Philip Nguyen, Attorney, specializes in corporate and legal claims, a financial legal representative to business moguls and politicians. I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client Engr. Mark Feschuk of California USA who was a contractor with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). On March 2016, my client and some other business men were involved in an auto accident and were pronounced dead on the scene.
 
Before his death, my client had (US$13.5 Million) with a financial institution here in Europe, In view of the Law of Succession, claims of this nature can only be made by a surviving relative/family member. Unfortunately he had no will at the time of death. All efforts made through some Private Investigators have revealed no link to any of his family member.
 
With the applicable law of succession there is a duration within which such claims must be applied for, and as a result I am under pressure to present the next of kin or a relative who will claim the funds, and failure to do this would legally allow the financial institution to report the funds to the Government Treasury as unclaimed funds (Lack of supersede). It is therefore my intention to introduce you as the next of kin/beneficiary, Please note that I’m legally equipped with all necessary information/documentations concerning the funds.
 
Upon your decision of acceptance, the release of these funds in your favor as beneficiary will be processed within weeks. You would be entitled to 40% of this fund. If you are willing to work with me on this.
 
In conclusion, it’s my concern to demand your ultimate honesty, co-operation and confidentiality to enable us conclude this transaction. I assure you that this process would be executed under a legitimate arrangement that would legally protect you and I from any breach of any law locally and internationally.
 
Please note, what drives my interest here is NOT GREED rather it would make no sense to allow this huge amount of money to go to waste when we can take advantage of the situation, and honestly if we don't do this, it will still end up in private pockets of corrupt people in government. Knowing fully well how billions of dollars are been embezzled
 
Yours faithfully,
BARRISTER PHILIP NGUYEN

Anti-fraud resources: