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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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Fraud email example:

From: "HANS WILLIAMS" <info@hanscwills.com>
Reply-To: directorwemabankplc1@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 14:53:13 +0000
Subject: REPLY AS URGENT

FROM THE DESK OF MR. HANS WILLIAMS,
DIRECTOR WEMA BANK PLC,
54,WEMA TOWER BUILDING,
MARINA


ATTN:PLS

THIS IS STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

I AM HANS WILLIAMS, THE DIRECTOR, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE WEMA BANK PLC.

I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COPPORTUNITY TO CARRY
OUT THIS BUSINESS IN MY DEPARTMENT.

WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $15,000,000.00 (FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN
CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN
IN NOVEMBER 1997 IN AN ACCIDENT.

SINCE WE HEARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME
OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR,BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE
FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO
THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.

UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER
APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND.MY DEPARTMENT HAVE AGREED TO MAKE BUSINESS
WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE
FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED HE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR
BANK,OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED
FUND.

WE HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS; 30% FOR YOU
AS FOREIGN PARTNER, 60% FOR US THE OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND 10% WILL
BE AIR-MARKED FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED
DURING THE COURSE OF THE BUSINESS.

UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES
WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND OUR SHARE. IT IS FROM OUR 60% WE INTEND
TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.

TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE
NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK
COORDINATES TO ENABLE US FILE LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS
FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

REGARDS,
MR. HANS WILLIAMS,
WEMA BANK PLC,
54,WEMA TOWER BUILDING,
MARINA


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