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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: "Dr Tim Lee" <drtimlee006@msn.com>
Reply-To: drtim_lee001@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 06:37:32 +0000
Subject: HAPPY THANKSGIVING (FROM DR TIME LEE)

FROM DESK OF DR TIM LEE (JP).
2 LEBOH AMPANG, 50100
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
DIRECT TEL:+60-12- 978 9341




Good Day.

I strongly regret any inconvenience the receipt of this letter may cause
you, bearing in mind the nature of its content coming from a person without
any referral, but please read and assimilate its content and objectively
consider if we can work together.

I am the head of the account department of a private bank here in Malaysia,
I would like to intimate you with certain facts that I believe would be of
interest to you.

This involves a foreign client of my bank with account
number14-255-2004/utb/t who shared the same last name with you and died as
the result of a heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart
condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf
Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 -
2:50p.m. ET as reported on.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html

He had an investment on fixed deposit of value US$.20 m, [Twenty million
united states dollars] which has been with my branch for a very long time
placed under our bank's management years ago, the circumstances surrounding
the investment made by this client with no known nominated successor in
title over this investment made with the Private Banking Branch of my bank
has made it very difficult to locate anyone who is directly related to the
deceased.

With the very strong feeling that no one will ever come forward to claim the
funds and the investigation coming to a close after several months, the need
for an assistance becomes crucial, as a next of kin to the depositor is
earnestly being searched for, I have already developed a full proof, legal
and totally risk free means through which the fund can be released to your
nominated bank account within a very short time after due documentation and
authentication process.The strategy is to use my position and influence as
the Head of the branch and Personal Account officer of the deceased to
present you as a next of Kin and beneficiary of the deposit. I want to
assure you that I have concluded all local modalities for the successful
completion of this within 10 banking days of your agreement to proceed with
me as the required assistance is perfected to be 100% risk free.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.


Kindest regards,



Dr. Tim Lee (JP)


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