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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: "Mr.Howard Melford" <howardmel@freeukisp.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: howardmelford@freeukisp.co.uk
Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 13:04:37 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE




--
Attn:Beneficiary,

I am Mr.Howard Melford and i work with Allied Irish Bank GB.I feel quite
safe dealing with you in this business proposition although,this
medium(Internet)has been greatly abused,I choose to reach you through it
because it still remains the fastest,surest and most secured medium of
communication.However,this Correspondence is unofficial and private, and
it should be treated as such.I wish to inform you that this letter is not
a hoax or Scam mail and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it
deserves. I also guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what
you may think of I am Mr.Howard Melford,(Leicester Office).My office
monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial institutions
here in United Kingdom concerned with foreign claim payments.My office has
the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge funds moving
within banks both on the local and international levels in line with
foreign claim settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as ghost
accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. As it is my duty
to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the British Government
Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits,I have the opportunity
to write you based on the instructions received two days ago from the
Foreign Debts Reconciliation Dept to submit the List of payment reports/
expenditures and audited reports of revenues.Among several others, I have
decided to present you as the Next of Kin/Will Beneficiary to an overdue
inheritance sum of $5.7M belonging to our Late Client an America who
unfortunately lost her life and family in a plane crash.

Following my idea that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do
this legally with your name as the bonafide beneficiary of the amount in
question by employing the service of a uk accredited attorney, who will
handle all the legal documentations and lay claims through his legal
authority on your behalf.Listen 50% of this money will be for you,in
respect to the provision of a foreign account and 50% would be for me as
have planned to come to your Country as soon as the transfer is completed.

My Conditions:

1) The sum of $5.7M only will be transfer into your account after the
processing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the bonfide
beneficary,the transfer will be made by telegraphic
Transfer(T/T),conformable in 7 working days.

2)This deal must be kept secret forever,and all correspondence will be
strictly by email/telephone, for security purposes.

3)There should be no third parties as most problem associated with your
fund release are caused by your agents or representative. If you Agree
with my conditions,i will advise you on what to do immediately and the
transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on
the Payment schedule instantly to meet the 7 working days mandate.

I hope you don't reject this offer and have this fund transferred.

Waiting for your reply soon.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr.Howard Melford

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