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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: shsara0001@fsmail.net
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:53:01 +0100
Subject: Re: Shahidullah Simon Ara

From Shahidullah Simon Ara
EVP & Head Operations.
HSBC Bank London
TEL/FAX: +44-870-130-4534
Private Email:shsara0002@yahoo.co.uk


Dear Sir,
PRIVATE MEMO

I am Shahidullah Simon Ara, a British Citizen and a banker of HSBC Bank London. There is a dormant account in my bank and the owner of the account dead in 1999 and until the crash I was the account officer of the deceased. There is a credit balance of ($15,000,000.00) Fifteen Million Dollars which has been dormant for years now and after further investigation, I discovered that the account and the money belong to a deceased foreign contractor working in Texaco Ltd London England.

For more insight about the crash – click this link;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

As a banker I cannot lay claims on this money. What I need from you is to use your name as next of kin and make you the rightful beneficiary so that I will use my position in moving the ($15,000,000.00) Fifteen Million Dollars out from London England. Every record
concerning this fund and all the legal documents backing the funds are in my possession, which will be forwarded to you once you indicate your interest.

After everything, you shall have 40% of the total sum, while 60% for me. All that is required is your honest cooperation to enable us conclude this business successfully. The 40% percent is for your assistance there is absolutely no risk involved.

With Regards,
Shahidullah Simon Ara
EVP & Head Operations.
HSBC Bank London

Anti-fraud resources: