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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "HSBC UK" <hsbcbankplc@workinhours.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 10:50:08 +0000
Subject: MY ADVISE

DEAR SAMON,
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, THERE ARE A LOT OF FRAUD BEING ATTACHED TO THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REMOVE ANY MONEY FROM THE FUNDS BEING WON BY THE WINNER,THIS IS AGAINST THE U.K LAW GOVERNING LOTTERY,ALSO IT LEADS TO MISAPPROPIATION OF FUNDS WHICH COULD LEAD TO LAW SUITS.

MY BEST ADVISE IS THAT YOU SEND THE BANK'S HANDLING FEE THROUGH THE TRAVELEX MONEY TRANSFER OR THE MONEY GRAM TO THE SAID ADDRESS.

OTHER WINNERS OF THIS PROMOTION SENT THE BANK'S CHARGES THROUGH, EITHER THE MONEY GRAM OR THE WESTERN UNION OR TRAVELEX MONEY TRANSFER, AND THEIR WINNINGS HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED SUCCESSFULLY INTO THERE ACCOUNT.WINNERS OF THIS EVENT CANT BE DISCLOSED TO ANY ONE YET,THIS IS TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMINGS BY UNWANTED PERSONS.

PLEASE KEEP THIS WINNING NOTIFICATION AS CONFIDENTIAL AS POSSIBLE UNTIL YOUR WINNINGS HAS BEEN REMITTED TO YOU.

WE AWAIT YOUR PAYMENT SLIP.

JAMES SMITH
--

Anti-fraud resources: