joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: william brown <williambrowna@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 12:31:23 +0100
Subject: next of kin

Dear Al Humaidi

I have been in search for a reliable person who will stand as the next
beneficiary of Late Eng:Al Humaidi who use to work with Gold Mining
Company in Ghana so when I saw your name I was pushed to contact you
and see how best we can assist each other regarding this transaction.

I Mr.William Brown, i am the regional manager of HFC Bank New Branch
Ghana, I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across to you on
my search as a reliable person and who can not betrayed me when this
fund get into your account, I am having important business discussion
I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you.

Late Eng:Al Humaidi, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit
with my bank in 2007, valued at US$18.4MillionUSD the due date for
this deposit contract was this 16 of January 2015 ,Sadly Al Humaidi
was among the death victims in the May 26 2014 in motor high way Accra
Ghana.

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it
because he was my friend and I am his account officer when he was
alive. Mr.Al Humaidi did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the
account was opened, and Al Humaidi was not married and no children.
Last week my Bank Management requested that i 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 Al Humaidi 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
was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking for
your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account,
since you have the same last name with him 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 you 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 and I am not a greedy person, so I
am suggesting we share the funds, 50/50% to both parties, my share
will assist me to start my own company in your country which has been
my dream.

Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as
TOP SECRET. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent
response strictly through my personal email address
williambrowna@gmail.com We can as well discuss this on phone +233
240269180 let me know when you will be available to speak with me on
phone. Have a nice day and God bless.

Anticipating your communication

Mr.William Brown Manager of HFC Bank Accra-Ghana

Anti-fraud resources: