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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: "Husam Al sayed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <husamalsayed2088@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2017 17:12:16 -0700
Subject: 07/04/2017

Hello Sir, I have been in search of someone to assist me and i was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am Mr. Husam Al Sayed, a Bank Officer here in U.A.E. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because it is in connection with someone from your country and you are going to benefit from it. One of our late customer, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 120 calendar months, valued at US$60,000,000.00 (Sixty Million United State Dollar) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of January 2014. Sadly he was among the death victims in the May 27 2006 Earthquake disaster in Java, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was in Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his end of life in the disaster. My bank management are yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his account officer. He did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened, and he was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that Her 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 he 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 name I was happy and I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/Heir to the deposit, 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 un Anticipating your communication. Husam Al sayed General Manager Human Resources (Emirate National Bank Dubai)

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