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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: "John Phillips" <wen-tpg@kanway.cc>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:02:06 -0700
Subject: Your response..


- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -

Hello and how are you doing with the family today?,
I am ESQ. John Phillips, a legal practitioner, I am the personal
attorney to Mr. Willimas Wu , a national of your country, who used to
work with BP oil London United Kingdom limited,here in Uk.
Sunday,October 23, 2010, my client,his wife and their three children
were involved in car accident which took his life and his entire
Family, i hate to remember this incident but God knows the best.
Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any
of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to do some
research on the internet, to locate any member of his family. That is
why I contacted you,and the reason why i contacted you is to assist me
in repatriating the money and property left behind by my late client
before they get confiscated or declared dormant by the bank.
The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to my late
client or have the Account confiscated within the next month. Since I
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives of my late client for
years, i use this opportunity to seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account
valued at US $7.3 Million Dollars can be transferred to your account
there in your country, then you and me can share the money and 10%
percent will be for any expenses we may incur along in this
transaction.
40% goes to you why 50% to me, 10% will be used as said in expenses.
Pls i need you to flourish me with your personal information like:
Your Full Name, contact address, age,occupation,marital status,phone
and Fax number.
Please Send your reply to my private email:
teambobjohnson@gmail.com
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Best Regards,
ESQ. John Phillips
FROM: JohnPhiliips &amp; Co. Solicitors,
323 Green Lane,
N4 2ES London, England.

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