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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: "Office Of The U.S. Secretary Of State" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ucheokafor@blumail.org>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:41:13 -0700
Subject: Your Unpaid Funds

Office Of The U.S. Secretary Of State
Committee On Foreign Payment
Resolution Panel On Payment
Washington Dc
 
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
 
I wish to use this medium and my office to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment of USD15,500,000.00 only from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA has been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via ATM CARD to be used in withdrawing your funds from any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum daily withdrawal is USD$10,000 Only.
 
 
The United States government has mandated the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER. Therefore You are advised to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA via email for further instructions on how to dispatch your ATM CARD to you.
 
Name: Mr. Uche Okafor
Email: ucheokafor@blumail.org
Phone: +234 818 811 5222
Central Bank Of Nigeria
Head Office Complex, Central Business District
Abuja FCT. - Nigeria .
 
 
NOTE: Inform Mr. Uche Okafor that you received a message from OFFICE OF THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER you will use in withdrawing your funds. Please make sure you send him this information below
 
 
1. Full names:
2. Address...
3. City:
4. State...
5. Email address...
6. Postcode...
7. Country...
8. Sex...
9. Age...
9. Occupation...
10. Telephone number...
11) Copy Of Int'l Passport, Drivers License, Or Any Valid Id Card.
 
 
Note that you will have to take care of the shipment charges for the delivery of your Atm card to your address. The cost will be informed to you by Mr. Uche Okafor and the method in which you are to send the shipment charge to him will be discussed by both of you.
 
 
As discussed and agreed, i will like you to understand that the charges cannot be deducted from your fund because it has been endorsed by both the Nigerian and American government. You shall receive USD15,500,000.00. No more, no less. Please do not expect them or even ask them to conduct any kind of deduction prior to sending you the ATM card.
 
 
 
I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. This office was obliged to intervene in this matter after receiving a notice from the logistics department of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA regarding the irregularities on the release of your funds to you.
 
 
Thanks for adhering strictly to these instruction and once again accept my congratulations.
 
 
Best Regards,
James Ford
Public Relations Officer
Office Of The U.S. Secretary Of State
United States

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