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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: "Jim Tang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimmy-tang1@live.com.my>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:48:16 +0800
Subject: DEAR FRIEND!!!

Greetings To You !!!!!

I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE NEVER MET BEFORE

My name is Mr. Jim Tang of HSBC Bank (Malaysia office),I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of Nineteen Million Seven Hundred and Sixty One Thousand US Dollars ($19,761,000.00) to your account.

The fund has been dormant (in-active) for 11 years in our Bank.I want you to work with me so that i can release the fund to you as the next of Kin to our deceased customer (the owner of the account) who died as a result of heart attack after learnt the news of his family's death in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia http://asc-india.org/lib/20041226-sumatra.htm.

In accordance with the escheat laws in Malaysia as a Kingdom, the board of directors of the bank met a fortnight ago and resolved to turn the estate of the deceased over to Government having waited for too long without the deceased relatives/next of kin coming forward to claim his property and if this is done,invariably,the funds will end up to become Government property and it is as a result of this that I am moved to contact you considering the fact that you share almost the same name with the deceased.I am seeking your cooperation and understanding to stand as the deceased next of kin to enable us claim the inheritance before the period given by the bank elapses.

This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential.I am sure and have confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute a project of this great magnitude.I solicit your assistance to enable us transfer the said amount into your safe account for onward investment.As long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business,trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down in future when the funds will transferred into your account.

The owner of this account is a foreigner and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it,the account has no other beneficiary and until his death.He was awarded two different contracts with Shell Development Company here before his untimely demise.My investigation through the National immigration department and Ministries here proved to me as well that he was single during his first visit in Asia.As a matter of fact,I have decided to transfer this fund abroad for investment plan.

If this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my apology but If you are interested reply with your information including your telephone number for easy communication and oral discussion.I await your prompt response.

Regards,
Mr. Jim Tang
E-mail: jimmy-tang1@live.com.my

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