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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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Fraud email example:

From: "piu cheung" <puihh4@msn.com>
Reply-To: puihhh4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 17:16:05 +0000
Subject: Business proposal !



FROM:MR. CHEUNG PUI
Hang Seng Bank Ltd
Sai Wan Ho Branch
171 Shaukiwan Road
Hong Kong.

ATTN:

Dear

I am Mr. Cheung Pui credit officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd,Sai Wan Ho
Branch. I have a obscured business suggestion for you.
Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client General Ibrahim Moussa who (in this
case I am his accounting officer) was with the Iraqi forces and also
businessman made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months and advised
that after the maturity,that the money should be transfered to our affiliate
branch in Europe. Now, the total value of the money is Twenty Four millions
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only and the money is in our
affiliate branch in Europe. Upon maturity several notice was sent to him,
even during the war early this year. Again after the war another
notification was sent and still no response came from him. I as his
accounting officer(as all correspondence to him is passed through me) later
found out that the General and his family had been killed during the war in
a bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation, I discovered that General Ibrahim Moussa did
not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work
of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my
office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Twenty Four
millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my
bank's Affiliate Branch in Europe,and no one will ever come forward to claim
it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of Europe, as it
concerns their banking rules, at the expiration 3 years the funds will be
reverted to our Bank in Hong Kong an this in turn will be reverted to the
ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.
Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of in to General Ibrahim Moussa so that you
will be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out (as the accounts
officer to General Ibrahim Moussa) so that we shall come out successful. I
have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary document that
will back you up as the next of kin to General Ibrahim Moussa , all that is
required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your Full
Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.After you have
been made the next of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims on your
behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor
for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by you. This
in turn I will send to the Affiliate Bank in Europe.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going to adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents.
Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 30% for you . Should you be
interested please send me your full names and current residential address
and I will prefers you to reach me on the email address
below(puihhh4@yahoo.co.uk) and finally after that i shall provide you with
more details of this operation.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Kind Regards

Mr. Cheung Pui



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