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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: hassan hassan <hhassan18@gmail.com>
Reply-To: hsalem827@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:34:07 +0000
Subject: U.A.E BANK

Hello dear

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you
will not betray me. I am Mr. Salem Hassan, a Banker here in U. A. E.
also We have branch in GH and One Mr. John, a citizen of your country
and Crude Oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank in 2008 for 60
calendar months, valued at US$81,400,000.00 eighty One Million, Four
Hundred Thousand US Dollars the due date for this deposit contract was
this 22nd of February 2010. Sadly John was among the death victims in
the May 26 2012 Earthquake disaster in Jawa, Indonesia that killed
over 5,000 people. He was in Indonesia on a business trip and that
was how he met his untimely end. My bank management is yet to know
about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his
Account Relationship Officer. John did not mention any Next of
Kin/Heir when the account was opened, he was not married and no
children. Last week my Bank Management requested that John should give
instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a
means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to
know that John is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the
funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is
why I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the Next of
Kin/Heir to the account, since you are a foreigner and my bank head
quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved;
the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect us from any breach of law. It is better that we claim
the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich
already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the
funds in this ratio, 50/50%, equal sharing. Let me know your mind on
this and please do treat this information highly confidential. We
shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response.

Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your communication.
hsalem827@gmail.com

Regards
Hassan.

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