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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "usman hassan" <usman_hassan6@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 21:36:28 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

TOP SECRET

Good day and Compliments,I am writing this letter in confidence believing
that if it is the wish of God for you to help me,God almighty will bless and
reward you aboundantly and you would never regret this.
I am MR.USMAN HASSAN,the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of International Bank Of Africa (IBA) Ouagadougou Burkina-faso West
Africa with due respect and regard.I have decided to contact you on a
business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end.I
came across a very huge sum of money belonging to MR.BUD STEWART,who died on
10th of May,2001 in a Car Crash with his wife-TESSA,and his only two
children-CHUCK and CLARK,and the fund has been dormant in his account with
this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his
family or relation before our discovery to this development.
The said amount was US$5.2M (Five Million Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars).Honestly,after this man died with his family my Bank (iba) searched
for his next of kin to come and claim his money but they were no where to be
found.Infact,nobody came up to claim the fund.
I in my department,have decided to look for a trusted foreign partner who
can stand in as the next of kin to the deceased and claim this money,as well
as providing Bank account for the remittance of the fund.As it may interest
you to know,I got your Contact through your Country Email Directory on
Internet.
Please don't say that you did not relate to the deceased because not
relating to him makes no meaning,You must not be a blood relation before you
become next of kin to somebody.All though i know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried,but i am assuring you
that all will be well at the end of the day.
Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased,get the required approval and transfer
this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and
needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your
interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this
GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign
account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because I work in this bank.
This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to
the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to
be re-transferred into on his request as it may be after due verification
and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole
money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.
I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.On
smooth conclusion of this transaction,i have agreed that 40% of the money
will be for you for your assistance and 60% will be for me.Any expenses that
may likely to arise during the time of transfer of this fund into your
account- we will paid it together.So,if you are Capable to handle this
Transaction,indicate
your interest by replying this letter with a PROMISE that you won't BETRAY
me when the fund arrives your account.Once I receive your urgent reply,I
will send you more DETAILS and TEXT OF APPLICATION which your will fill with
your personal datas and submit to my Bank as the real next of kin to MR.BUD
.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the Fund in your account successfully,and ask me to come down to your
country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages
previously indicated and further investment,either in your country or any
country you may even advice.
USMAN HASSAN

_________________________________________________________________
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