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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Leonard Chang <leonardchang25@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: leonardchang25@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:35:55 +0100
Subject: You have to read this

Good morning,


I am Leonard Chang, Principal Assurance manager for the China
Trust Commercial Bank in Hong Kong .
I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of
Mr. Perry Newton and an investment placed under our
banks management 8 years ago.I would respectfully request
that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect
the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.
Mr. Perry Newton engaged in a business discussions with our private
banking. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of 7.35 million
United States dollars which he intended to invest.
We spun the money around various opportunities and made margins
for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood
at this point of 10.5 million USD.In mid 2004, he instructed that entire
sum (10.5M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment
requiring cash payments in Hong Kong. We got in touch with a security firm
who agreed to receive this money for a fee and make cash available to Perry.
However the security firm got in touch with us that this money has not been
claimed. On enquiries we found out that Perry Newton was involved in an
accident in China, which means he died intestate.I propose that since I have
exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds.
On verification, which will be the details I make available to my bank, my
bank will instruct the security firm to make payments to you. For all your
troubles I propose that we split the money in half. In the banking circle this
happens every time, or the money will revert back to the state. Nobody is
getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds,
we see so much cash and funds being re-assigned daily. I would want us to
keep communication for now strictly by e-mail.I shall not accept or acknowledge
any phone call. Only emails would be treated in relation to this proposal but not
without this code;[CODE NO:AM-001].
Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children.
I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences,
but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that
success and riches never come easy or on a platter
of gold.This is the one truth I have learned from my private banking clients.
Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act
swiftly on this. Please pardon my writing mistakes. Please get back to me
immediately via my e-mail address.

leonardchang25@ymail.com

I await your response.
Regard

Leonard Chang

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