joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: cheng vincent <Chengvincent18@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: chengvincent88@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:45:52 -0500
Subject: Greetings and Compliments

Greetings and compliments,
I am Mr. VC H Cheng of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited Hong Kong. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate
of a Deceased client with similar last name as yours and an investment
placed Under our banks management. I would respectfully request that
you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the
integrity of the information you come by as a Result of this mail.
I contact you independently and no one is informed of this
communication. In 2003 a Hong Kong businessman who was our Client,
made a fixed deposit Of $ 18.350.000.00 (Eighteen million Three
Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars only) in my branch, a
number of notices were sent to him when it was due, But no response
came from him till date. We later found out that he, Along with his
family had been killed in the tsunami disaster that Happened in Asia
that hit their home. What bothers me most is according to the laws of
my country at the Expiration of eight years the funds will revert to
the Hong Kong Government If nobody comes for the funds.
After more inquiry it was also discovered that the late business man
did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the
paper Work Of his bank deposit This means that he died inestate and
this is the Reason I am writing you is because you share the same last
name What I expect From you Is trust and commitment, I want this large
sum of money transferred with your assistance and you Should have
nothing to worry about regarding legality AT ALL. All that is Required
is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be Executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect me and you From any
breach of the law.What I propose is that since I have exclusive Access
to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds.
You do not have to have known him personally. I know this might Be a
bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I
propose that we split the money in half (50/50). In the banking circle
this happens every time. The other option is that The money Will
revert back to the state.
Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this
email if you do not appreciate this proposal I have offered you. All
confirmable documents to back up this fund shall be made available to
you, As we move on; I shall let you know what is required of you. Your
earliest response to this letter will be appreciated. I want to know
if you are willing to follow up this business seriously before I can
give you More details about this transaction.
I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that
success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is
the one truth I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not
betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, We should act
swiftly on this. Please get back to me immediately, Here is my private
email (chengvincent88@yahoo.com.hk).
I await your response,
VC Cheng.






Anti-fraud resources: