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: "Mr Tan Wong" <tanwong220@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 03:33:37 -1200
Subject: Please Respond

FROM: TAN WONG
(tanwong2200@yahoo.com.hk)

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr.Tan Wong
director of operations of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an
obscured business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Major Fadi Basem who
was with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a
numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value
of Twenty Four millions Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several notice was
sent to him, even during the war . Again after the war
another notification was sent and still no response came
from him.We later found out that the Major and his family
had been killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their
home. After further investigation it was also discovered
that Major Fadi Basem did not declare any next of kin in his
official papers including the paper work of his bank
deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at
my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my
bank. So, Twenty Four million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollar($24,500,000,) is still lying in my bank and no
one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most
is that according to the laws of my country at the
expiration 7years the funds will revert to the ownership of
the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the
funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I
will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to
Major Fadi Basem so that you will be able to receive his
funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so
that we shall come out successful. I will contact my
attorney to prepare the necessary document that will back
you up as the next of kin to Major Fadi Basem , all that is
required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can
commence his job.After you have been made the next of kin,
the attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and
secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your
favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be
provided by you.There is no risk involved at all in the
matter as we are going to adopt a legalized method and the
attorney will prepare all the necessary documents. Please
endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue.Once the funds have been transferred
to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio
of 65% for me, 30% for you and 5% will be use to pay back
any partner at the end of the transfer for any money spent
in the process of the transfer. Should you be interested
please send me your full names and current residential
address and I will prefer you to reach me on this email
address(tanwong2200@yahoo.com.hk) which is my private email
address and finally after that i shall provide you with more
details of this operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Tan Wong.


Anti-fraud resources: