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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: "Lee Valiant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vleehk@yandex.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:17:56 -0600
Subject: Re: FYI

From: Mr. Lee Valiant
Head of Compliance at Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd
Email: vleehk@yandex.com

Hello

Note: You are the sole recipient so please keep our communication confidential.

I am Mr. Lee Valiant, As a matter of fact, I am contacting you regarding the estate of Alfred and an investment placed under our bank's management some years ago. I would respectfully request you keep the contents of this letter confidential and respect the integrity of this information. I contact you

In 2005, the subject matter, came to our bank to engage in business discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of US14.5m, which he wished to have us invest on his behalf. Based on my advice, we spun the money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at over US10m. In mid 2007, he instructed that the principal sum (US14.5M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Hong Kong and China. We have made arrangements with a specialist bank in china who agreed to receive it for a fee but did not hear from Alfred.

Our Customer base review last year revealed that this porfolio has not been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Alfred was involved in an accident in Mainland China, which means he died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is because due to our code of conduct we are not allowed to show personal interest in matters of this nature. More so, I got your email address through the commerce of trade foreign division and based on the fact that you have same last name as Alfred.

What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file (I was his accounts officer at the time), you will be made the beneficiary of these funds (all legalities will be put in place). My bank will contact you informing you the funds has been willed to you. On verification, which will be the details I make available, my bank will instruct to make payments to you. You do not have to have known him. I know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money 40% to me and 60% to you. In the banking circle this happens every time. If we do not lay claim, the money will revert to the state of Hong Kong. Nobody is getting hurt, this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and as a Chinese National we see so much funds being re-assigned daily. I would want us to keep communication for now strictly by email. Once again, kindly note I am a family man with wife and children. I know wit!
hin me that nothing ventured is no

Get back to me immediately via my private email: vleehk@yandex.com

Thank you in anticipation.
Lee Valiant.

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