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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: "BEN S. BERNANKE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmdepartment@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 06:45:43 -0400
Subject: Good News Fund Release

BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
33 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10045
DEAR VALUED CUSTOMER:
   NOTIFICATION OF FUND CREDITING FROM BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE LUCKY THAT YOUR PAYMENT FILE WAS FIRST TO ATTEND IN TODAY MEETING, AND THE MEETING IS WELL ALL ABOUT THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND AND WE ARE GOING TO COMMENCE FULLY TO CREDIT YOUR PAYMENT TODAY.
THEREBY, WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE IN PROCESSING OF THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT THAT WILL TAKE US 12HOURS TO DO IT. HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED A NOTICE LETTER FROM THE UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION (U.N.O), THAT BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND WILL COMMENCE TO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU HAVE TO OBTAIN A SYNTAX DOCUMENTS FROM THE ORIGINATED FUND IN NIGERIA.
 
 
SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE NIGERIAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) AND OBTAIN THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS SUCH AS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SEAL OF TRANSFER ( D.I.S.T) SINCE THE FUND IS ORIGINATED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO AVOID ANY INTERRUPTION OR QUESTION FROM THE UNITED STATE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.
 
 
 
THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY YOU GET IT FROM THEM OTHERWISE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY. SO YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED TO CONTACT THE NIGERIAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) WITH THEIR FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND REQUEST FOR THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS AND LET US KNOW ONCE YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
MOREOVER YOU ARE ALSO ADVICED TO RE-CONFIRM YOUR ACCOUNT PARTICULARS TO US TO AVOID CREDITING YOUR FUND INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT.
 
 
 
NIGERIAN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
Contact Person: Mr.Larry Johnson
Email: intermcard@w.cn
TEL: +234-8033-472-529
IST FLOOR,MODANDOLA HOUSE 42/44 PLANNING WAY RING ROAD ROOM,7367 AMINU CRESCENT E.F.C.C BUILDING
601 4TH STREET, LAGOS NIGERIA.
 
 
 
CONTACT ABOVE OFFICE FOR THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS AND FORWARD IT TO US BEFORE END OF TODAY SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS FACILITATED. WE WILL NOT LIKE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WILL TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR CREDITING OF YOUR FUND AND IT HOLD BY THIS SYNTAX DOCUMENTS. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU OBTAIN IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND FORWARD IT TO US BEFORE THE REMITTANCE OF YOUR FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY.
 
 
 
THEREBY, AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS SUCH AS DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SEAL OF TRANSFER (D.I.S.T), IT WILL ONLY TAKE US 24HOURS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT AND FORWARD TO YOU THE ACCESSING INFORMATION LIKE THE TRANSFER CONFIRMATION SLIP THAT YOU WILL USE TO CONFIRM YOUR FUND WITH NO FURTHER STRESS.
 
 
 
FINALLY, YOU URGED TO RESPOND TO THIS IMPORTANT MAIL AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, ATTACHED ARE MY WORKING ID AND INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT. TRY AND CONTACT MR. THOMAS WHEELER FOR THE DOCUMENTS SO THAT WE CAN CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED.
INFORMATIONS NEEDED URGENTLY PLEASE
 
WAITING FOR THE SYNTAX DOCUMENTS.
YOURS SENCERELY,
MR.BEN S. BERNANKE
CHAIRMAN FEDERAL RESERVE BANK


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