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: MINISTER OF FINANCE <mrs.florenceibe@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: minister_finance@live.com
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:50:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS PEOPLE? PLEASE CALL ME NOW.


Dear Beneficiary,
 
This is to inform you that arrangement has been concluded to remit your total payment sum into your nominated bank account via NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT REVENUE ACCOUNT. ACCOUNT with  STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LONDON OR TOGO in WEST AFRICA.
 
Please note very carefully, Mr. John West from Ireland and his Nigerian partner Mr Kenneth Daani came to my office with a sworn affidavit to re-route your payment into a new bank account number as stated Below
 
Prudential Bank and Trust Co (Zamora Branch)
Account #: 4568-5457-99949.
Swift:PBT6980.
Address:Zamora Street,
Panda-can, Manila, Philippines.
 
However, before this is done, you are hereby requested to confirm to us without delay the followings: If Mr. John West is one of your Director’s as he claimed, If you have instructed him to appoint an attorney /agent on your behalf, If you have authorized us through your agent to issue Cash Call Payment remittance to them on your behalf, Also confirm if you have authorized Mr. John West to change your banking particulars as stated with this mail.
 
You are advised as a matter of urgency to confirm the legitimacy of the above claim and kindly give us reasons why you decided to effect the above Change of Account. We have decided to contact you because the conduct of the two men became suspicious due to the unsatisfactory information they provided concerning this transfer, and as a result, I decided to give them one week appointment ahead to enable me make necessary verification from you.
 
Therefore, you are advised to get in touch with this office as soon as you receive this mail or you call me on 234-1-821-7260.
 
Yours Truly
Mr. Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga.
Ministry of Finance (FGN).
Tel: 234-1-821-7260.

Anti-fraud resources: