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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: "TUNG LEE" <tung_lee2000@msn.com>
Reply-To: lee_tung2002@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 18:17:40 +0000
Subject: Email from Mr. Lee

Good day

My name is Mr.Tung Lee. I trained and work as an external auditor for the
United Overseas Bank (UOB), working as part of a bigger team that covers the
entire Asian region. I had taken pains to find your contact through personal
endeavors.

On routine audit check last month, I discovered some investment accounts
that had been dormant for the least twelve years. All the accounts belong to
a single holder (NAME WITHELD FOR SECURITY REASON) with monies totaling a
little above $15.7 million United States Dollars plus interest. Banking
regulation/legislation in Singapore demand that I notify the fiscal
authorities after a statutory time period of twelve years when dormant
accounts of this type are called in by the monetary regulatory bodies. The
above set of facts underscores my reason of writing and making the following
proposing.

My investigations of the said account reveals that the investor died in
1993—the exact time the account were last operated. I can confirm with
certainty that the said investor
Died interstate and no next–of–kin to his estate has been found or has come
forward all these years. I am of the settled conviction that using my
insider leverage, I, working with you can secure the funds in the account
for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of
the Government of Singapore. This is especially possible as you bear the
same LAST NAME to the said investor. This exactly is why I crave your
participation and co-operation. I have seized all relevant documents (legal
and Banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the
claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to any
account nominated by you.
Of course you shall be handsomely rewarded for your part in this transaction
as the people I am working with are prepared to allocate a 20% slice of the
total funds for your efforts. I shall however leave out the finer details of
this transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to
participate.

Be assured that my colleagues and I are on top of the situation all the time
and there will be no risk whatsoever if you agree to come on board. Needless
to say, UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if we are to
successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction.

To maintain the level of security required seeing this transaction to come
to a successful conclusion, I have intentionally left out the finer details.
To affirm your willingness and cooperation to my proposal please do so by
email(tung_lee@islamabad.net)stating your FULL NAME,DATE OF BIRTH,TELEPHONE
NUMBER,FAX NUMBER,EMAIL
ADDRESS AND POSTAL ADDRESS.

I do expect you prompt response.

Thank you,Mr.Tung Lee.
tung_lee@islamabad.net


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