joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "BRUCE KHAN R." <brucekhan@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:28:57 +0100
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST

ATTENTION
  
  Before I start,I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you.I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to establishing a relationship,but you will realize the need for my action.I guessed that you have not received the Bequest Notification which l earlier sent to you by post last week with the address I saw in the WILL of late Engr Hanks Clifford before this time.That is why I considered it necessary to contact you through email.
 
     On behalf of my late client,Engr Hanks Cliffordr of the blessed memory, I write to notify you that my late client Engr rHanks Clifford bequested to you the sum of Seven hundred and fifty US dollars($750,000),in the codicil to his will and last testament.Late Engr Hanks Clifford died after a brief illness on 1st May 2005. Until his death, Late Engr. Hanks Clifford was a renowned philanthropist; a businessman of an international repute and an industrialist, in fact he was blessed by God.Engr Hanks Clifford did not play with the life and progress of the people who were opportuned to meet him on the way,and among all he had a very big regard for his God,the things of God and works of God.Late Engr. Hanks Clifford used his resources to serve humanity and thus touched the lives of many through charity.

      According to him,he said,He is going to use his wealth in the service of God and humanity.As a result of that he is giving you this because of your involvement in Christian activities,community charity and in making better the standard of living of the citizen of the world most especially those in your country.As trustees and executees of this will,I wish to inform you that the will was read at the British Crown Court Probate Division (Registry)march 6th, 2006, as the law stipulates,and it is in execution.
 
     You are hereby required by this notification to confirm your ownership to this Legacy by replying this mail immediately so that i will send the statement of the "WILL" to you so that you can go through it. Since i sent you the first mail through post and it was returned undelivered,i urge you to forward to me the following to verify if they correspond with the one contained in the will document:
 
1,YOUR NAME IN FULL
 
2,CONTACT ADDRESS
 
As we cannot afford to give or pay to a wrong person.On that note please do not inconvenience your very self much as you will be treated in a legal and security bound environment.As soon as you submit the required data needed of you, and the information(address)is compatible with the information l have,we shall start the execution of your bequested fund immediately.

   l shall detail you on the procedure in benefiting this, as you have been shortlisted,on receipt of your reply.

BARRISTER BRUCE KHAN


Hotmail is evolving - be one of the first to try out the Windows Live™ Mail Beta

Anti-fraud resources: