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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Cheung Pui" <cheungpui4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: puicheung4@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 18:41:10 +0000
Subject: Hello

FROM:MR.CHEUNG PUI

Hang Seng Bank Ltd

Sai Wan Ho Branch 171

Shaukiwan Road Hong Kong.

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Cheung Pui,director of
operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd,Sai Wan Ho Branch.I have an obscured
business suggestion for you. Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Major
Fadi Basem who was with the Iraqi forces and also a businessman made a
numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty Four
million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars[$24,500,000] only in my
branch. 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. We later found out that the Major and his family had been killed
during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home. After further
investigation it was also discovered that Major Fadi Basem 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
million,Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars[24,500,000] 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[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 Major Fadi Basem 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 will
come out successful. I have contacted my attorney that will prepare the
necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Major Fadi
Basem , all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your Full Names and Addresses[scanned and sent to my private box as
listed under for my perusal and trust],so that my attorney can commence with
his job. After you have been made the next of kin, my attorney will also
fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and
letter of probate in your favor for the transfer 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 my 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, 25%for you,and 5% for any
expenses incurred during the course of the operation. Finally after that, I
will provide you with more details of this operation[including a scanned
passport,certificate ot deposit]etc. Your earliest response to this letter
will be appreciated. Kind Regards,

Mr. Cheung Pui

NOTE: All interested person(s)MUST write to: puicheung4@yahoo.com


Anti-fraud resources: