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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: Edward Biggle Hanson <edwardbigglehanson1@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: edwardhanson1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:06:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: My greetings


From: Mr. EDWARD HANSON
External Auditor.
NATWEST BANK UK.
www.natwestbank.com

Attention,

Do accept my sincere apology if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although,the Internet is not safe for such communication but i have no option because it's the fastest means, my apology once more.

I am an external auditor retained by one of a well known bank here in the United Kingdom. In one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant account with holding balance of $52,000,000.00 (Fifty Two Million Dollars) which has not been operated for the past Eight years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Mr/Mrs. Frederick M. Wong and Lilla C. Wong, of Redwood City, California who died in plane crash as evidenced in the bbc website below . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because none of his family members has knowledge of the existence of either the account nor the funds.

I have secretly discussed this matter with one of the shadow directors of the bank whom i represent his interest here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner that will assist us provide an off-shore account where this fund could be transferred. although due to his position he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow the instructions i will be getting from him, everything will be successful because we will be working hand in hand with him. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of the deceased customer .

All necessary paper works towards the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated bank account will be taken care of by our bank certified attorney and as such you should not bother. we will use part of the fund for investment and to assist the less privileged in the society.
If this fund is not claim by the end of this quarter, the entire sum will revert to government purse in line with British banking policy as regards abandonment,and the fund will stand forfeited.


This transaction is legitimate and the fund does not originate from illicit drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. Finally, you will retain 30% for your cooperation/assistance, 10% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during this process. if interested please kindly send me your valid international passport,to be used in the application as a backup.

You are at liberty to demand for detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual transaction and i will be at your service to furnish same to you.


Below are the relevant information required for the application.

Bank Name..............
Bank Address...........
Beneficiary Name.......
Account Number.........
Swift Code.............
Your Tel/Fax Number....
Routing Number.........
State & Country........
Do you have any investment idea?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Mr. Edward Hanson.


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