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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: "Sir Steve Kane" <steve.kane@llydstsbonline.com>
Reply-To: steve.k1960@live.com
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 23:14:25 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: MY UNDERSTANDING.

SIR STEVE KANE JNR
Accounts & Auditing Department
LLOYDS TSB PRIVATE BANKING UNIT
25 Chesham Street, London
EC2V 7HN
United Kingdom.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Forgive me the indignation you may feel if this message comes to you as a
surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your
prior consent and writing through this channel. I got your contact from a
directory data. And hoping that you are a reliable and honest person that
will assist us claim this money overseas.

In a brief introduction, I am Sir Steve Kane Jnr, an internal auditor with
a financial institution here in Central London, England. With due respect
and regard, I am contacting you on a business transaction that will be
beneficial to both parties at the end.

A customer to this Bank, Mr M.O.Minjun, an expatriate oil consultant and
Gold dealer, made a numbered time deposit of USD $32 Million in the
institution for 18 calendar months. Unfortunately on February 2004, this
client died in a ghastly auto crash with his wife and only daughter on
their way to Dubai - UAE.

Upon Maturity of the deposit, the fund was confined to a dormant status
whereupon we made this discovery and further inquiries by me revealed that
he neither left a will nor a contactable next of kin or an extended
relation in his entire official document including his bank deposit
information with this bank.

It is standard practice that after the expiration of 5 years the funds
will be declared as an "unclaimed asset resource" and the account closed.
My contacting you hence is to allow your particulars to be forwarded to
this institution as the family business partner and next of Kin to our
deceased customer for the purpose of benefiting the content of the
account. All the arrangement to put claim over this fund has been
perfected by me and I will assist you on steps to follow.

Needless to say that the trust reposed on you at this juncture is
enormous. In return we demand your complete honesty and trust. Therefore
this transaction will be based on the following terms and condition as
stated below:

1. Our conviction of your transparent honesty and diligence.

2. That you will treat this transaction with utmost secrecy and
confidentiality.

3. That you will not ask for more share than what is negotiated or try to
sit on the funds or indulge in any form of blackmail once the funds is
under your custody.

4. that upon receipt of the funds, you will release and disburse 10% to
charity and the remaining be shared by I and you in the ratio 60:40
respectively.

Remember that with my support, this transaction is risk free and will be
done under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from the breach
of the law.

We also hope to conclude this transaction within a short period of time if
you accord us your unalloyed support and co-operation.

As soon as you accept this condition and finally indicate interest in this
deal the first this to do is to send your telephone number for voice
communication and further establishment of trust.

After this I will then guide you on other steps to follow. To further
cement our trust on you, we will demand for a written agreement or any
other proof of loyalty from you when you finally accept this offer.

I will appreciate your kind effort if you write me at
steve.k1960@yahoo.com, Waiting eagerly to hear from you.

Regards,
Sir Steve Kane Jnr

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