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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: "Dr. Ilyas Harun" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ilyasharun223@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:12:36 +0800
Subject: SEEKING YOUR PLIGHT!


GOOD DAY,

It is comprehensible for you to nurture apprehension reading from me on the
premise that I am unknown to you. I am Dr. Ilyas Harun, a Malaysian national
and asset Management expert with a Finance Firm in Malaysia.

I came across your contact via scrupulous search conducted by an IT specialist
whom I have employed for same hence, I am disposed to share the hereunder
contained business interest with you.

Primarily, I solicit your discretion in the matter which by nature of successful
accomplishment demands such discretion in handling of related information.

A client of my firm who share your name and nationality passed away in August of
2004 from a heart condition, leaving behind the sum US$12 million in his account
with my finance firm in Malaysia. All efforts undertaken to uncover his families
have proven unsuccessful thus, promoting scenario for the government to acquire
and possess the estate.

My purpose of contacting you is to help secure and obtain the account before the
escheatment (confiscation) process of the account is commenced by the end of
next month. With my proficiency and several years of practice, I am confident
that this transaction will be successful.

Let me remind you that utter measures to consummate this claim will be conducted
through legal means with intention to preclude us from infraction of the law and
protect our civil right.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us achieve this transaction.

Sincerely,
DR, ILYAS HARUN

Anti-fraud resources: