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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHAEL HANZ" <mikehanz121@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mikehanz00@gmail.com
Date: 21 Apr 2017 10:54:08 +0900
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL/ MUTUAL BENEFIT

Dear Friend,

I must say that I have enormous respect for you considering the manner in which I have made contact with you.
I am Mr Michael G Hanz, the senior Auditor In charge of Foreign Remittance Unit, Halifax Bank London-UK. I have a business which will benefit both of us upon your acceptance for us to work together for a mutual business understanding. I and my colleagues have been mandated to audit the account of the bank for the past 5years till 31st of December 2016. We have uncovered an abandoned amount of money in an account to the tune US$12.035M belonging to one customer name withheld for security reasons.
Upon the presentation of our Audit report the money is still lying in the account awaiting claims for the past 4years and we have decided to move the fund to an escrow account where the payment shall be diverted to for our personal use. I therefore use this opportunity to propose to you for investment into your company with reasonable reward as our foreign partner. 
After the end of the business, We shall agree that { 30% } Thirty Percent will be for you in respect of all your assistance for this transaction and { 60% } Sixty- Percent will be for me and colleagues being the pioneer of the business.
I sent you this mail knowing fully well what the consequences of my actions and not without a measure of fear, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. You have to work real hard and sometimes take chances as they come. This could be a retirement bonus for us both though it depends on your decision.
I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is from you refusing to work with me. I am the only one who knows of this situation and now you are second. Therefore, if my offer is of no appeal to you, delete this message and forget I ever contacted you.
Be assured that there is no risk involved as all modalities for the successful transfer of this fund out of the Halifax bank has been concluded.
I will like you to provide immediately the below information to enable me use it and get the necessary documentation that would enhance immediate success of this transaction.
1.Full Name:_________________
2.Full Address:_______________
3.Telephone Number:_________
4.Country:__________________
5.Occupation:_______________
6.Age:______________________
7.Sex:______________________
As soon as you reply, I will let you know the next steps and procedures and more details to follow in order to finalize this transaction immediately.

Yours Sincerely,
Michael G Hanz
mikehanz00@gmail.com

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