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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- johnhowell2002@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr John Howell <johnhowell2002@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:33:18 +0400
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY
ASALAM-ALEKUM BROTHER:
My name is Mr John Howell,I work with FIDELITY BANK OF NIGERIA PLC LAGOS NIGERIA,I need your assistance to stand as the beneficiary to the sum of $17.8 millions us dollars lying unclaimed in our bank since year 2001. I need your assistant to handle this transaction as the beneficiary of this funds.Because i can't do it all alone.
The money was deposited in our bank in the year 2000 by a foreign Contractor His Name is Late Mr Ahmed Hassan Ghoubashi whom unfortunately lost his life in a Auto crash on his way to San Fransisco by area including wife and only daughter. Ever since his death the money has been lying unclaimed.
All Effort Made by the Bank to Locate the Relatives of Mr Ahmed all went in Vaine,Because Mr Ahmed Has No Relatives
Now that nobody applied for the money as the beneficiary, the bank is now planing to claim the money and this money does not belong to the bank. that's why i contact you to claim this funds to be both of us money which we will share together.
And the Banking law stipulates that any money lying unclaimed for five years will be transferred to federal government suspect account with Central Bank of Nigeria. Please i need your assistance to achieve this great chance because i do not wish this money transferred to Central bank of Nigeria because it will be shared among the top directors.
Because this money was deposited by a foreigner like you and i can only use your influence as a foreigner to get this money i want you to apply for this money in the bank Now i need you co-operation to claim this money because only someone from foreign country can stand as the beneficiary.
Once you Handle this Transaction with good faith and this money is release into your bank account over there.I will take a leave in the bank where i work and come down to your country to take my share of the money.This money will be shared between the two of us 50% for you and 50% for me.
I have all information and necessary documents to proof you as the next of kin and beneficiary to the late depositor .Please i want you to be honest with me because this money is a golden opportunity to me and i do not want to loose it.
I need your strong assurance that you will never let me down.I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I will use my position and influence to obtain all legal approvals for forward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the relevant ministries and foreign exchange departments.
I have to create a file for you now as the next of kin to this money.Because if you contact the bank and they check the Central Computer of the bank.And your name is not there as the next of kin to Late Mr Ahmed Hassan the bank will doubt you.
Now i Need you to Give me this Informations So that i can Use it to crate a File for you now in the Central Computer of the Bank as the Next of Kin to Late Mr Ahmed Hassan and the Sole Beneficiary to this 17.8 Million Us Dollars so that when you contact the Bank for the Fund to be Release to your Bank Account over there,They Will Believed You.
Please i will want you to give me all the following information to so that i can quickly start with the processing of your file.Also want you to know that everything depends on how your act towards this transaction.
For this business to be efected i will need the following information:
FULL NAME.............................................
HOME ADDRESS..........................................
DATE OF BIRTH.........................................
OCCUPATION............................................
MARITAL STATUS........................................
COUNTRY...............................................
SEX...................................................
PHONE NUMBER..........................................
EMAIL ADDRESS.........................................
keep me informed. With all these information i will successfully put your name in the necessary files as the next of kin to the deceased. I want you to know that this transaction is 100%risk free because all necessary documents to prove as the beneficiary will be processed with your name.
I want you to handle this business proposal with utmost confidentiality because my Bank must not know that i gave you this information. And i will be highly great full to you if my letter meet you considerate approval.i will be grateful if you always reply my letters
you can reply me through my e-mail address: johnhowell2002@yahoo.co.uk
John Howell
CFO
+2348062952910
johnhowell2002@yahoo.co.uk
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