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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "URGENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claimsdepart20@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:25:29 +0100
Subject: ASSISTANCE



WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027
ATTN: Sir/Madam,
IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT We have actually been authorized by the newly appointed British Prime Minister David Cameron, and the governing body of the UNITED NATIONS monetary unit, to investigate the unnecessary delay of your ,Inheritance/Lottery FUNDS, recommended and approved in your favor.
During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily Delayed by the corrupt officials of the Bank in Africa who are Trying to divert your money into their private accounts, to forestall this, security for your funds Was organized in the form of your
Personal Identification Number (PIN) ATM CASH CARD this will enable only you have direct Control over this fund, we have also agreed with the body that the issuing/payment of this funds will be handed over to the two major local Banks here UK namely (HSBC BANK LONDON & BARCLAYS BANK PLC LONDON)in conjunction with the finance company where the said funds was kept ( ONYIX FINANCE COMPANY UK)both banks have a major rule to play to avoid the hopeless situation created by the African bank Officials .
You are therefore advised to you send your contact information to REV MORRIS P MARTINS of Audit unit, Office London, EMAIL: OnyxfcompaniesUK@gmx.com, phone +447624103358 to collect your original payment slips with your ATM card.
Therefore, the total amount to be loaded on the ATM CARD is the sum of £2,500.000.00 that stands as part of your payment, the balance will be paid in next quarter, but the maximum withdrawer is £1500 per a day, in any of the ATM POINT in the world. Please kindly inform us with correct mailing address, p. o box not accepted.
TAKE NOTE :
Every affected beneficiary must bear the cost of postage by any of the chosen courier and the cost of the insurance. We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Sincerely yours,
CAPT. JAMES C. WILLIAMS

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