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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: "chan656lee" <chan656lee@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 05:01:37 -0600
Subject: Info and details.


Good day,
My name is Mr.Chan Hannk. I train and work as an external auditor for the United Overseas Bank (UOB), working as part of a bigger team that covers the entire Asian region. Last month on my routine audit check, I discovered some investment accounts that had been dormant for the least twelve years.All the accounts belong to a single holder(NAME WITH HELD) with monies totaling a little above $8.5 million United States Dollars plus interest.Banking regulation/legislation in Singapore demand that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period of twelve years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the monetary regulatory bodies. The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and making the following proposing.

My investigations of the said account reveals that the investor died in 1993 the exact time the account were last operated. I can confirm with certainty that the said investor died interstate and no next~of~kin to his estate has been found or has come forward all these years. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, I, working with you can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of Singapore.
This is especially possible as you bear the same LAST NAME to the said investor. This exactly is why I crave your participation and co-operation. I have seized all relevant documents (legal and Banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to any account nominated by you. Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this transaction as the people I am working with are prepared to allocate a 20%
slice of the total funds for your efforts. I shall however leave out the final
details of this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to
participate.Be assured that my colleagues and I are on top of the situation all the time and there will be no risk whatsoever if you agree to come on board. Needless to say,UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction.

To maintain the level of security required to see this transaction to come to a
successful conclusion, I have intentionally left out the finer details. To affirm
your willingness and cooperation to my proposal please do so by email (chan656lee@yahoo.com.sg) stating your FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH,TELEPHONE NUMBER,FAX
NUMBER,EMAIL ADDRESS AND POSTAL ADDRESS.
I do expect you prompt response.

Thank you,
Hannk

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