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

Fraud email example:

From: Q_wan <wang_q@chello.be>
Reply-To: qwang4maudi@netscape.net
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 13:03:44 +0200
Subject: Hoping for your assitance.


I am Mr. Q. Wang, credit officer of Hang Seng Bank Ltd; I have an urgent and
very confidential business proposition for you. I honestly apologize and hope
I do not cause you much embarrassment by contacting you through this means for
a transaction of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality and prompt
access reposed on this medium. Furthermore, due to this issue on my hands now,
it became necessary for
me to seek your assistance, and it is imperative for me to know your opinion.
On August 6, 2001, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Petroleum
and Chemical Corporation Mr. Ebert Maudi made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for
twelve calendar months, valued at US Dollars 18,750,000.00 (Eighteen million, Seven
hundred and Fifty thousand) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month,
I sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his contract employers,
the Hong Kong Petroleum and Chemical Corporation that Mr. Ebert Maudi
died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out
that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of
kin were fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Ebert Maudi
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including
his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of18,750,000.00
US Dollars is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with
the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will
ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Hong Kong, at the expiration
of 5(five) years of maturity, the money will revert to the ownership of the
Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal
is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to
Mr. Ebert Maudi so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get
into the hands of some corrupt government officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address
so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will
put you in place as the next of kin.
We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the
WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate / administration
in your favour for the transfer. The money will be paid into your account for us
to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 35% for you and 5% for Expenses Incurred
in the course of the transaction.
There is no risk at all, as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done
by the attorney and with my position as the credit officer guarantees the successful
execution of this transaction. If you are really interested in doing this business
with me please reply immediately to my non-official email address, qwang4maudi@netscape.net
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and how the attorney will
prepare the relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.
Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy
communication. You should observe utmost confidentiality, and 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.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and regards.
Mr. Qin
NOTE: Please reply to my non-official email address, qwang4maudi@netscape.net.

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