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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: "Hikmat BOU HUSSEIN MEEDAD" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2015 19:32:21 -0800
Subject: Important Message

Hello,

I have US$7 Million Dollars in a special account in a Japanese Bank, but I am currently being held as a prisoner and hostage in a military camp. Can you travel to Japan and withdraw the money and invest on my behalf?.
If you are interested, please respond with your full contact details and I will get back to you with Proof of Funds and instructions on how to proceed. Please find below some details. I am a Lebanese, and I have lived most of my life in Syria. I was a prosperous property developer, and soon, like most Lebanese who did not openly support the oppressive regime of President Assad, I was labeled a spy and detained without trial in a secret camp, the Der Shmiel camp. Like most Lebanese, I have maintained a Bank account abroad, and I have currently US$7 million on deposit in a Japanese Bank.
A sympathizer made available to me a Desk top computer which I use in the privacy of his office. I will send to you upon your reply, 3 important documents with which you can contact my Bank:

1. A properly executed General Power of Attorney in your favour,
2. Proof of Funds from my Bank, sent to me on demand a few weeks ago.
3. Copy of my Passport
I will also send to you the full contact details of my bank so that you can contact them on my behalf, and then arrange to withdraw the money and invest as you deem fit. Our Equity participation in the proposed investment venture shall be 30% for you and 70% for me. This is of course negotiable, as I am relying entirely on you.
Finally, please keep in mind that my money came from noncriminal origins, and there is absolutely no illegality involved. I am simply handicapped as a prisoner and need your help to invest my funds until I am released from detention… May God bless you!

Regards,

Hikmat BOU HUSSEIN MEEDAD
Camp Der Shmiel , Syria
Email: hikmathusseinmeedad@gmail.com




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