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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: "JOSHUA .L. WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josh.will@representative.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:00:23 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR SIR/ MADAM

 
 
 
 
 
LAW OFFICE OF JOSHUA .L. WILLIAMS
2836 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis,
MN 55408, United States
 
 
 
 
Dear Sir/ Madam
 
 
 
It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a  huge surprise,This is because we have not met before but I am inspired to sending you this email following the huge fund transfer involved  and  will be of mutual benefit to the both of us.
 
 
However, my name is Joshua Lafont Williams ,attorney to the late Bruce Letendre, a canadian national, who has worked and live in the states for 35 years, On the 11th of November,2008. My client,his wife And their three children were involved in a ghastly motor crash, unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several inquiries to several embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has proved unsuccesful.
 
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but has proved futile, hence I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are the only surviving relative of my client. Otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $15 million U.S dollars(Fifteen million U.S.America dollars).
 
 
Consequently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in trying to locate any member of his extended family, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.
 
 
 
All I  require from you  is your maximum co-operation to enable us get this done smoothly,also forward the following to me
 
 
 
Your Full Name:
Your House Address:
Your Tele-phone And Fax No:
Your Age and Gender :
Your Age:
Your Nationality:
Your Occupation:
 
 
I guarantee you  that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law
 
 
Yours Faithfully,
Barr Joshua.L.Williams

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