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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: British High Commisssion <bthcommission_beninrei@msn.com>
Reply-To: <bthcommission_benin@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:54:31 +0000
Subject: Re: 1st Notice





BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
The British School of Cotonou,
Haie Vive, 08 BP 0352,
Cotonou, Benin.
Date: 17/11/2011

Attn: Beneficary.

Ref: Allotted Funds.

The Government of the West African Countries (ECOWAS) under the African Union (AU) has recompensed you following the meeting held with the Government of the various Countries' high commission with the AU chairman, Teorodo Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on the fraudulent activities of her Citizen on you.
This is to cushion the effect of the present economic difficulties resultant from the global meltdown and High rate of job loss. Your email address confirms that you were among those defrauded as listed by the FBI and Scotland Yard through email scam by fraudsters either as contract payment, Next of kin claims, lottery and game wins etc. By citizens of either Ghana, Nigeria,Benin Republic, BurkinaFaso, Liberia, Togo and from any part of the globe where they operate from.

Be informed that a total of $2,450M USD {Two Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars only} was allocated to you by the heads of states of the African Union as you were indicated as one of the scam victims by African scamers. Your current phone number/contact address should be made available to this Commission in acknowledgment of this mail to effect the processing and release of the stated fund by the paying bank.
It is pertinent to add that further communication between you and scamers should be discontinued as such will result to a total cancellation of the release of the stated allotted fund to you. You are requested to acknowledge the receipt of this mail for proper update of the file opened for you in this regard.

Yours faithfully.
Mrs. Pauline Collins.
For the Commissioner {Mr. Bob Dewar}.

Anti-fraud resources: