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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: "MERCELO J. ORTIZ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <macerconsul@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 02:56:42 +0200
Subject: URGENT REPLY PLEASE


Dear: Sir/Madam

Before I proceed, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of approach to establish a relationship of trust, but you will realize the need for my action.

My name is Mr. Marcelo J. Ortiz Actually; I got your contact information through the public records while searching for a last name similar to my deceased client MR. PETER an expatriate engineer who worked with the Spanish Energy Giant Endesa Electricity Company in Spain for about eighteen years. He died on the 7th day of July 2008 with his wife and two children in a horrific car accident on their way to Barcelona for holiday, unfortunately, all the occupants of the car accident lost their lives.

Before his death, he deposited the sum of $8,800,000.00M (EIGHT MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS ONLY) in Storage Company here in Spain. The Company has written me and mandated me to present any family heir/inheritor for claim before the money gets confiscated as an unclaimed Fund. So I decided to search for any of my late client's relative which has been very difficult for me, as he did not declare any other person, address, partner or relatives in the official paper works of his consignment deposit before his sudden death.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to late Mr. Peter, since you both share the same last name so that the Funds will be released to you. With my position as his lawyer, I will now place your name as the next of kin to my late client. I will prepare every relevant document that will assist your claims, and facilitate the release of the Funds. Note that this transaction is 100% risk free and I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement without the breach of the law.

Also, be assured that this business is risk free because I've worked out all modalities to complete the process successfully. I would suggest that 20% of the money is donated to a relief organization, while we share the remaining 80% equally. Reply via my private email address at: marceloortiz239@gmail.com for further clarification or you can leave a private number where I can reach you. But if you are not interested in this opportunity and proposal, please cancel and mail to me so that I can continue my search for potential and serious person.

Best regards,

MERCELO J. ORTIZ
(Legal Practitioner)

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