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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: "Elizabeth Soon" <addw101@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: fodw234@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 13:59:22 +0200 (EET)
Subject: Re Read This Urgent Message

Dear Friend,

I am Elizabeth Soon the managing director and portfolio manager of
Southeast Asia Equities. I joined AIG Global Investments Corp. in 2008.
Prior to joining AIGGIC, I served as a portfolio manager at Swiss-owned
fund management group, HSZ, since 2006. Prior to 2006,
I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On
November 21st, 2008; Mr. Vin Bakken, a National of NORWEGIAN who used to
be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in
Saudi Arabia. Mr. Vin Bakken Made a Numbered time (Fixed deposit) for 36
calendar months, valued at $62,000,000.00 (Sixty-Two Million united
States Dollars) in my Branch.

Upon maturity in 2007, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally
we discovered from his contract employers, Shell Petroleum Development
Company in Saudi Arabia that Mr. Vin Bakken And his wife with their three
children were involved in an auto crash, and all occupants of the vehicle
Lost their Life. 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. Vin Bakken
did not declare any next of kin or Relations in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. The sums of
$62,000,000.00 have been floating as unclaimed since 2005 in my bank as
all efforts to get his relatives have hit the stones. According to the
Chines law at the expiration of 4 (FOUR) years, the money will revert to
the ownership of the Chines Government if nobody applies to claim the
fund and the four years is the end of November 2010

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will
Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued
at $62,000,000.00 can be transferred/paid to you. This will be disbursed
or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may
make. All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and A
trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me urgently by
E-mail and Provide me with the following;

1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.
4. Your Age.
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,
Elizabeth Soon, CFA
Fund Manager


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