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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: "john lambert" <j-lambert.6@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jlamberthsbc_2@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 21:46:42 +0100
Subject: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
DIRECTOR/CEO.
DEAR SIR,

I AM VERY GLAD TO WRITE YOU THIS MAIL, HAVING BEEN INTIMATED WITH YOUR
CONTACT BY THE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ENGLAND
WHOM I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR. BY THIS INTRODUCTION, I HAVE EVERY BELIEF
THAT I CAN GAIN EVERY CONFIDENCE I REQUIRE IN THIS TRANSACTION TO CARRY ON
WITH YOU.

LET ME FIRST START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU. MY NAME IS MR.JOHN
LAMBERT. I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER,CUSTOMER SERVICES, HSBC BANK LONDON. WHEN
I WAS JUST NEWLY PROMOTED IN FEBRUARY, 2000, I HAPPENED TO ACCOUNT THE
BALANCES OF ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS WHO LATER DIED AS A RESULT OF LIVER
PROBLEMS. HIS NAME WAS MR. ADRIANO MULLA, AN AMERICAN CONTRACTOR WITH
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING IN ENGLAND HERE. HE WAS SUCH A NICE
MAN BUT, INCIDENTALLY UPTIL THIS DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY BODY TO COME
AS HIS NEXT OF KIN TO CLAIM HIS ACCOUNT CREDIT DESPITE OUR EFFORT TO REACH
ANY RELATION OF HIS.

THEREFORE AS A RESULT, I HAVE CONSULTED WITH TWO OTHER COLLEAGUES OF MINE
TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE SO THAT YOU CAN PUT IN CLAIMS REQUISITION AS THE
NEXT OF KIN TO INHERIT THE ACCOUNT OF MR. MULLA. I SHALL SUPPLY YOU WITH
EVERY DETAILS OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO CLAIM THIS MONEY WHICH STANDS
AT USD $6,307.000 MILLION AS AT THE LAST ACCOUNT ENDED 12 MARCH,2002. MY
COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE BY
OFFERING A TOTAL OF 25% TO YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO CLAIM THIS MONEY FOR
US IN YOUR NAME, AS YOU WILL BE MADE THE BENEFICIARY TO THIS FUNDS. PLEASE
MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS TRANSACTION SECRET AS WE HAVE PERFECTED EVERY
PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THIS MONEY IS PAID IMMEDIATELY THERE IS AN INTEREST
FROM YOU TO CLAIM THIS MONEY FOR US.

BEST REGARDS,
MR.JOHN LAMBERT.

REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR PRIVATE TEL/FAX NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAN OFFICIALLY
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ON THESE LINES.

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