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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: ' Mary H '<mslima200@gmail.com>
Reply-To: huenmary@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:34:15 +0000
Subject: Benefit

Dear Friend,
My name is Mary Huen, I am a staff of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Private and Account Officer to my late client (Sabah Mahmoud Adim) who made a fixed deposit amount of US$20,500,000.00, he did not declare any next of kin in any of his paper work.

Banking regulation legislation in Hong Kong demand that I notify the fiscal authorities of such dormant account after a statutory period of Four years. Then it is reviewed by the monetary regulatory bodies.

The above consequence aroused my reason to contact you. I believe with my leverage as a top bank official and working diligently with you, we can secure the funds in your account for both of us instead of declaring it as unclaimed funds which will then be moved into the coffer of the Government of Hong Kong or Bank Directors of my bank. This exactly is why I seek your indulgence to carry out this project.

I need someone I can trust and rely on, someone who will be truthful, frank and honest. Someone who will agree to assist me and whom, I can count on to act as a genuine and interested party. It is my desire to do this project with you. This is why I have pleaded with you to maintain an open mind and do whatever is necessary to make the project a success. The success of this project is capable of changing our lives forever, what I expect from you is trust and commitment, I want this large sum of money transferred with your assistance, if we follow up this transaction diligently it would be completed within 20 working days.

Furthermore, I would like to remind you that this transaction shall be carried out under a legitimate legal procedure without breaching any of the international laws, do not allow ignorance to take this great opportunity away from your life.

However I shall be waiting your response and assurance.

Sincerely,
Mary Huen

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