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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: "AGENT JOHN EDWARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agetjohnedward1.fbi@w.cn>
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 07:54:52 -0700
Subject: FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)

FROM: AGENT JOHN EDWARD’S OFFICE
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
INTELLIGENCE FIELD UNIT
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC
20535-0001, USA
 
 
URGENT ATTENTION:
 
I AM SPECIAL AGENT JOHN EDWARD FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) INTELLIGENCE UNIT. WE HAVE JUST INTERCEPTED AND CONFISCATED TWO (2) TRUNK BOXES AT JFK AIRPORT IN NEW YORK, AND ARE ON THE VERGE OF MOVING IT TO OUR BUREAU HEAD QUARTERS.
WE HAVE SCANNED THE SAID BOXES, AND HAVE FOUND IT TO CONTAIN A TOTAL SUM OF USD10 MILLION, AND ALSO BACKUP DOCUMENT WHICH BEARS YOUR NAME AS THE RECEIVER OF THE MONEY CONTAINED IN THE BOXES. INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT ON THE DIPLOMAT WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE BOXES INTO THE UNITED STATES HAS IT THAT HE WAS TO DELIVER THIS FUNDS TO YOUR RESIDENCE AS YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT WHICH WAS DUE YOU FROM THE OFFICE OF FINANCE MINSTER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.
 
WE CROSS-CHECKED ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTATION IN THE BOXES, AND WERE ABOUT TO RELEASE THE CONSIGNMENT TO THE DIPLOMAT, WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE BOXES IS LACKING ONE VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION WHICH AS A RESULT, THE BOXES HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED UNTIL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED.
 
ACCORDING TO SECTION 229 SUBSECTION 31 OF THE 1991 CONSTITUTION ON RELEASE OF UNCLAIMED CONSIGNMENT PAYMENT, YOUR CONSIGNMENT LACKS FUNDS OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE AND FOR THAT REASON YOU MUST CONTACT ME FOR DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROCURE THIS CERTIFICATE, SO THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT CAN BE LEGALLY CLEARED AND OKAY FOR DELIVERY TO YOU.
 
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT THIS BUREAU WITHIN 72HOURS OR WE WOULD TAKE IT THAT YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CONSIGNMENT, AND WOULD MOVE IT TO THE TREASURY
 
ALSO, YOU MUST NOT CONTACT ANY OTHER BANK FOR ANY PAYMENT, BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT IS HERE IN CARE OF OUR STORAGE VAULT TEAM AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU ONCE YOU FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS.
 
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
YOURS IN SERVICE
 
AGENT JOHN EDWARD
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
INTELLIGENCE FIELD UNIT
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC.
20535-0001, USA.

Anti-fraud resources: