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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: "zheng lee" <zhenglee046@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: l_zheng046@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:46:45 +0000
Subject: Re:HELLO(Merry Chrismas!)

FROM THE DESK OF:
MR.ZHENG LEE,
HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
 
Dear Friend,
My Name is Zheng Lee, Bank Manager of Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Taiwan.I
would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail
confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a
result of this mail. I know you would be wondering why I am writing you with
a request such as this but I only urge you to read on.
A British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals
Corporation, Mr.Courtney Steven made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for
twelve calendar months, Mr.Courtney Steven died from an airplane crash
alongside with his family. The bank immediately launched an investigation
into possible surviving next of kin to alert about the situation and also to
come forward to claim his estate. If you are familiar with private banking
affairs, those who patronize our services usually prefer anonymity, but also
some levels of detachment from conventional processes. In his bio-data form,
he listed no next of kin.
In the field of private banking, opening an account with us means no one
will know of its existence, accounts are rarely held under a name;
depositors use numbers and codes to make the accounts anonymous. This bank
also gives the choice to depositors of having their mail sent to them or
held at the bank itself, ensuring that there are no traces of the account
and as I said, rarely do they nominate next of kin. Private banking clients
apart from not nominating next of kin also usually in most cases leave wills
in our care, in this case; Mr.Courtney Steven died interstate. In line with
our internal processes for account holders who have passed away, we
instituted our own investigations in good faith to determine who should have
right to claim the estate. This investigation has for the past months been
unfruitful. We have scanned every
continent and used our private investigation affiliate companies to get to
the root of the problem. I alone have the deposit details and they will
release the deposit to no one unless evidence of relationship with the
deceased, which I shall provide you with, is presented. I alone know of the
existence of this deposit for as far as Hua Nan Commercial Bank is
concerned, the bank's management has no single idea of what? the history or
nature of the deposit. They are simply awaiting instructions to release the
deposit to any party that comes forward.
I am aware of the consequences of this proposal. I ask that if you find no
interest in this project that you should discard this mail. I ask that you
do not be vindictive and destructive. If my offer is of no appeal to you,
delete this message and forget I ever contacted you. Do not destroy my
career because you do not approve of my proposal,If you find yourself able
to work with me, contact me through this email address. If you give me
positive signals, I will initiate this process towards a conclusion. I wish
to inform you that should you contact me via official channels; I will deny
knowing you and about this project. I repeat, I do not want you contacting
me through my official phone lines nor do I want you contacting me through
my official email account. Contact me only through the numbers I will
provide for you and also through this email address. My official lines are
not secure lines as they are periodically monitored to assess our level of
customer care in line with our Total Quality Management Policy. Please,
again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this
mail not without a measure of fear as to what the consequences may be, but I
know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and
riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one truth I have
learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my confidence. If we
can be of one accord, we should plan a meeting, soon.
In closing, please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that
this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Upon receiving
your reply, I will then furnish you with a more comprehensive detail of this
transaction and what is required of you.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Zheng Lee
 


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