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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: CHIEF JOHN EZE <mrrobertwilliams@live.com>
Reply-To: johneze.2010@live.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:49:39 +0300
Subject: RE:FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION:

ATTN:

RE:FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION:AMOUNTING $20.6 MILLION USD

IN LINE WITH THE RECENT DIRECTIVE BY THE PRESIDENT COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE
ARMED FORCES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA CHIEF ALAH YARA YARADUA, AUTHORIZING
THIS OFFICE TO VERIFY/RECONCILE AND VETO APPROVAL TO ANY CONTRACT FILE
CERTIFIED
OK.

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE PRESIDENCY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SENATE
COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN AN IRREVOCABLE PAYMENT INSTRUCTION TO WEMA BANK
INTERNATIONAL PLC, OF NIGERIA AUDITORS TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND UNDER 48
HOURS UPON
THE RE-CONFIRMATION OF YOUR CONTRACT DETAILS AND BANKING INFORMATION.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WE HAVE RECEIVED A SUDDEN APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF YOUR ACCOUNT
BY SOME OTHER PERSON(S) NAME WITHHELD STATING THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND THAT THEY
ARE YOUR NEXT OF KIN, WITH A NEW BANK ACCOUNT, WHICH HAS BEEN PROCESSED AND
SUBMITTED TO ORLD BANK AUDITORS, THE ACCOUNT DETAILS IS STATED BELOW:

BANK: HOME SAVINGS AND LOAN
ADDRESS: 4006 HILLMAN WAY, YOUNGSTOWN. OHIO
A/C NO: 0404090432
BENEFICIARY: COGHLAN,ROBERT K.

WE WRITE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE SINCERITY OF THIS APPLICATION MADE BY YOUR
ACLAIMED NEXT OF KIN, FOR THIS NASCENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONGFUL TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND.

YOU ARE THEREFORE REQUIRED TO CONTACT MRS SHEILLA MAHER
OKOLICHI,POSITION:DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT, WEMA BANK
INTERNATIONAL PLC, OF NIGERIA AUDITORS ON THIS EMAIL:
{financieroffice2010@gmail.com} UNDER 48 HOURS TO ASCERTAIN THE
AUTHENTICITY OF
THIS APPLICATION IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE.

A COPY OF THIS LETTER HAD BEEN FORWARDED TO THE WEMA BANK
INTERNATIONAL PLC, OF
NIGERIA AUDITORS FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS TO THE STATED BANK
ACCOUNT.

BE INFORMED ACCORDINGLY,

CHIEF JOHN EZE
ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT (FRN).

Anti-fraud resources: