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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: "JOHN D BROWN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnbrownuk@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:11:27 -0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME FOR PAYMENT

Attention:Fund Beneficiary,
My name is Mr.John Duncan Brown a financial consultant working for United Nations Annex office here in Nigeria.This is to bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money Transaction originated from any part of African as Contract payment,inheritance fund or Lottery Winnings due to Unauthorized/incapability of financial Institutions In releasing such huge sum of money due to Fraud, terrorist and money Laundry activities going on world wide.
I am here to inform you that we have been authorized by the IMF in conjunction with the World Bank to investigate the unnecessary delay of your Outstanding Contract Payment and my office is also empowered to recommend and approve payment if certified as genuine.
During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily been delayed by some corrupt officials who are Trying to divert beneficiaries' Funds into their private accounts.
Hence Your Name appears as one of The fund beneficiaries whom their fund was successfully cleared recently From Terrorist and Money laundry and your money will be released to you through any of these means of your Choice that will be cash-able from any International Bank in your country been the only way you would receive Your money to avoid paying excess charges.
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT REF: SCBA/IRD/CBX/021/13
This is your New Payment Reference No.-35460021,
Allocation No: 674632, Password No : 339331 , Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit Payment No : 103 , Released Code No: 0763;Secret Code No: XXTN013 ,Having received these vital payment number,
To forestall the security of your payment,your funds has been organized and for the safety of your funds we have been specifically advised to release this payment to you either by online banking system or ATM CARD/ MASTER CARD payment system to you. We have also agreed with the paying Bank in Madrid Spain to pay you US$8.5m as soon as you respond to this message accordinlg.
Therefore You are qualified now to received and confirm Your part-payment valued US$8.5m immediately you reconfirm your full Informations to us.
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1, First and last name
2, Direct Phone, fax and mobile #.
3, Your Complete Residential address.
4, Occupation
5. A copy of your Driving License or International Passport
Thanks
 
Mr.John Duncan Brown

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