419 scam: "Mr. Bruce Akin"<bruceakin54@yahoo.com.hk> FOR YOUR INTEREST !!

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "bruceakin@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "bruceakin@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Bruce Akin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bruceakin@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:07:53 +0430
Subject: FOR YOUR INTEREST !!

Mr. Bruce Akin
Reply to bruceakin@gala.net

I wish to seek your assistance for the transfer of US$25M depository made by a foreign investor that has remained dormant for years now. I discovered that the account holder died without making a WILL on the depository.

This money cannot be approved to a local bank account holder, but can only be approved to a foreigner. If you will stand as next of kin to the fund, it will be shared 50%/50%, As this is a TWO-man business deal transaction.

I shall provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. I need your assistance and co-operation to this reality.

If interested, I will like you to provide immediately your full Names and Address, Date of Birth, Occupation, Tel & Fax Numbers so that an Attorney will be able to prepare the necessary documents which will put you as the next of kin.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, I expect that you will not take undue advantage of the trust I Will bestow on you. I anticipate your urgent response.

Mr. Bruce Akin
Reply to bruceakin@gala.net

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam