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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: "Prince Abdul Hakeem" <princeabdul@email.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:34:56 +0600 (BTT)
Subject: Your Urgent Attention is Needed





Good Day,
Greetings to you, I got your contact detail via business guide of your
country.
Based on the further explicit investment information about your country
from my research, I wish to invest in your country under your
supervision.

I am Prince Abdul Hakeem Bolkiah, the son of Prince Jeffrey Bolkiah former
finance minister of Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate on the Gulf Island
of Borneo. I save your time by not amplifying my extended royal family
history, which has already been disseminated by the international media
during the controversial dispute that erupted between my father and his
step brother, the sultan of Brunei Sheik Muda Hassanal Bolkiah.
As you may know from the international media, the sultan had accused my
father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion
dollars; this was as a result of the Asian Financial crisis that made my
father company (Amedeo Development Corporation) to be declared bankrupt
during his tenure in the office.

However my father was kept under house arrest, his bank accounts and
private Properties including a crude oil export refinery were later
confiscated by the sultanate. Furthermore, during this unfortunate period,
I was advised to evacuate my immediate family outside the country to avoid
further prosecution from the sultan and his security operatives, but
unfortunately for me I was arrested and placed under house arrest by the
Sultan, presently I have not access to a phone but I have a Palm hand-held
computer from which I am sending you this mail.
Some of the guards here are still loyal to me, so they would be my contact
with you if there is any document I need to send to you to enable you have
access to these funds and invest it for me.

Before I was incarcerated, I have already dispatched the sum of Forty
Million United States Dollars {$40,000,000.00} in cash To Secure Bank In
United Kingdom for safe keeping abroad, which I will disclose to you
immediately you declare your interest.
I seek your good assistance to invest these funds into profitable
investment in your country to facilitate future survival for my family
abroad. After due deliberation with my aids we have decided to offer 20%
of these funds to you as compensation for your strong cooperation while
certain percentage have been mapped out for both local and international
expenses that may be incurred during this transaction.
Please I count on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust,
while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of
this transaction.
You can visit the following website for a better understanding of this
situation:-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Jefri_Bolkiah
During this dispensation please I count on your absolute confidentiality,
transparency and trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards
a swift conclusion of this transaction.
Finally, your financial compensation will be 20% of the total cash. That
is 20% of the {$40,000,000.00}
Contact Email: princeabdul@email.com
Regards,
Prince Abdul Hakeem Bolkiah





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