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.

 

 

Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "CHEUNG PUI" <cheungpui@hangsengbankoffice.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 03:02:09 +0000
Subject: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

> FROM: CHEUNG PUI
> E-mail:
ccpui05@yahoo.com.hk
> Tel/Fax:852-301-61720
>
> Dear friend,
>
> Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Cheung
> Pui director of
> operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. 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 business man made a numbered
> fixed deposit for 18
> calendar months, with a value of Twenty Four
> millions Five Hundred Thousand
> United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon
> maturity several notice was
> sent to him, even during the war and again after the
> war  another
> notification was sent and still no response came
> from him. We later find out
> that the Major and his family had been killed during
> the war in 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 millions Five Hundred
> Thousand 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 to the
> laws of my country at
> the expiration 4 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 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 Major Fadi
> Basem , 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 fill 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. 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 :
> E-mail:
ccpui05@yahoo.com.hk
> Tel/Fax:852-301-61720
> 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,
>
> Cheung Pui

Anti-fraud resources: