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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 Fayad S. Bolkiah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sprincefayad@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:56:45 +0100
Subject: From Prince Fayad S. Bolkiah Please I need your Reply

Hello,
 
Compliment of the day,I got your reliable contact from your country’s
Chamber of Commerce Directory and further explicit investment
information about your country. I am Prince Fayad B.S. Bolkiah, the
son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, former Finance Minister of Brunei , the
tiny oil-rich sultanate on the Gulf Island
 
I will 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's company Amedeo Development Company and
government owned Brunei Investment Company to be declared bankrupt
during his tenure in 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 sultanate to avoid further prosecution
from the sultan and his security operatives, but before I could do
that I was placed under house arrest by the Sultan and have no access
to a phone but I have a Palm hand-held computer from which I am
sending you this mail.
 
Some of the guard 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.
 
Before my incarceration, I went ahead to moved the sum of Thirty
Million United States Dollars (US$30,000,000.00) in cash under special
arrangement into the custody of a private Security and Trustee company
in Spain. for safe keeping. Just like an unspecified amount of money
Former President Sadam Husseine took out of Iraq in cash.
 
Hence I seek your good assistance to invest the fund into profitable
investment in your country to facilitate future survival for my family
abroad. I have decided to offer 20% of the fund to you as compensation
for your strong cooperation while 5% have been mapped out for both
local and international expenses that may be incurred during this
transaction while you will keep the balance of the 75% for me and my
family till my lawyer meets with you.
 
Please I count on your absolute Confidentiality, Transparency and
Trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift
conclusion of this business transaction.
 
Please endeavor to contact me immediately through my private and
confidential Email Address as indicated here below:
EMAIL: sprincefayad@gmail.com
 
May Allah's blessing remains with you.
 
I remain yours sincerely.
 
Prince Fayad.S. Bolkiah.
 
You can visit the websites below for a better understanding of the situation.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/670959.stm
 

Anti-fraud resources: