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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: "SIMON CHOW" <simonchow@royal-bankofhongkong.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2005 15:53:00 +0000
Subject: FROM SIMON CHOW

FROM: MR SIMON CHOW
DAH SING BANK LTD
DEX VOEUX RD BRANCH
HONG KONG
Email:simonchow@Royal-BankofHongKong.com

Dear Sir/Madam

I am Mr. Simon Chow, credit officer of the Dah Sing
Bank Ltd,Dex Voeux Rd Branch. I have a obscured
business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Gen Hassen
Fazi who was with the Iraqi forces and also business
man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar
months, with a value of Forty million United State
Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several
notice was sent to him, even during the war.

Again after the war another notification was sent and
still no response came from him. We later find out
that the Gen Hassen Fazi and his family had been
killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their
home.

After further investigation it was also discovered
that Gen Hassen Fazi 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, Forty million United State
Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever
come forward to claim it.

What bothers me most is that according to the laws of
my country at the expiration of 3 years the funds will
revert 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
kin to Gen Hassen Fazi 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 so that we shall come out successful. I have
contacted an attorney that will prepare the document
that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen Hassen
Fazi , 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
favour for the move of the funds to an account that
will be provided by you.
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
endeavour 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 60% for me, 30% for you and 10%
which will be used to offset every expenses made by
both parties during this project including phone
calls. Should you be interested please send me your
full names and current residential address and I will
prefer you to reach me on the email address below,
[simonchow@asiamail.com ] 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. Simon Chow

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