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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: "FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.fbi@citromail.hu>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:09:34 -0800
Subject: Re: MESSAGE FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

ROBERT MUELLER III
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.
WASHINGTON D.C FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETRAP INTERNET

ATTENTION: FUND BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUND WILL BE TRANSFER TO YOU THROUGH A NOTABLE BANK IN UNITED STATES (HSBC). WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PEOPLE YOU ARE DEALING WITH ARE TRYING EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS FOR YOU TO PAY AN UPFRONT FEE WHICH YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO PAY. THE ONLY FEE WHICH YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR TRANSFER IS THE SUM OF US$150 WHICH THE ACTIVATION FEE AND IT IS MANDATORY. AS SOON AS THE FEE OF US$150 IS BEEN PAID, YOU WILL BE ISSUED A TRANSFER CODE THAT YOU WILL TENDER TO ANY HSBC BRANCH IN UNITED STATES. MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT THE INTERNATIONAL FOREIGN REMITTANCE ON HOW YOU WILL MAKE THE PAYMENT OF US$150 AND THE POSSIBLE DAY TO RECEIVE THE CODE.

CONTACT NAME: MR. HENRY BILL
CONTACT E-MAIL: henrybill2010@citromail.hu
TEL: +234 708 520 1961

THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) WASHINGTON, D.C, VEHEMENTLY ADVISE YOU COMPLY WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN CHARGE OF YOUR FUND AND ADHERE TO EVERY INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO YOU, FOR SMOOTH AND EASY TRANSACTIONS, YOU'RE HEREBY AUTHORIZE TO CONTACT HENRY BILL VIA THE ABOVE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU'RE TO OBTAIN THE TRANSFER CODE WHICH WILL COST YOU APPROXIMATELY US$150 AND IF YOU'RE ASK TO SEND ANY MORE MONEY ASIDE THE ACTIVATION OF THE TRANSFER CODE, DO NOT HESITATE TO NOTIFY THIS OFFICE FOR SECURITY REASONS.

BEST REGARDS,

[http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/images/mullersig.gif]



[http://www.fbi.gov/libref/directors/images/muellerport.jpg]


JOHN STEFANIDIS III
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,
NW WASHINGTON, D.C
===============================================
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:This communication and its attachments may contain non-public,confidential or legally privileged information. The unlawful interception, use or disclosure of such information is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, or have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and delete all copies of this communication and attachments without reading or saving them.

Anti-fraud resources: