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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: Henry Abraham <zmail44@contact923.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <h103abraham@mail.bg>
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 01:34:36 +0530
Subject: Good day!

Dear Sir,

I contacted you concerning an abandoned sum of Ten million pounds (£10m). In 2003, a customer called Eng.James Williams came to our bank for business discussions and investment.Then he deposit the Sum of Ten million pounds £10.000.000.00).

The board of directors of HSBC bank London, mandated me to look for any Known relation of Eng.Eng.James Williams since after his death on the 2003, however, all my effort to trace his relation proved abortive and that is the mail reason I am writing you this uninvited mail asking for your cooperation to present you as the next of kin to Eng.Eng.James Williams since you are a foreigner and the funds will be approve by my Bank and transfer to you as the beneficiary.

Now, I am prepared to give the necessary details to you as the closest surviving relation of our deceased customer (Eng.Eng.James Williams). I am also proposing that after a successful execution of the business deal, the funds will be shared in the ratio 40/55. You will get 40% and I will be entitled to 55% as the initiator of the deal, 5% would be used to reimburse the expenses made by both parties during the processing of the transferring which include, telephone bills, traveling expenses and fees. You know that I must have done my home work already before contacting you.

Although the project is capital intensive, I know i will be able to pull it through following proper banking and legal channels with your assistance at your end. We will tidy up the legal aspect with the assistance of a lawyer who will prepare all the documents that will be needed to transfer the funds to you in your country. Once more, I ask that if you find no interest in this project that you should discard this mail and forget I ever contacted you, I ask that you do not be vindictive and destructive; do not destroy my career.

Opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime. I am a family man and this is an opportunity for me to give my family the best in life. I would want you to think about this and let me know if your decision.

If you give me positive response, I will give you the relevant INFORMATION for the successful transfer of these funds and we both enjoy it in peace.

1. Your full names
2. Your direct phone for easy communication
I await your response.
Regards,
Mr. Henry Abraham

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