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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: "Sanusi Lamido" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willyray@superposta.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 03:46:22 -0800
Subject: YOUR TRACKING DETAILS

Central Bank of Nigeria.
From the Desk Of Mr. Sanusi Lamido,
 
 
Dear Consignee,
 
 
This is to notify you that your Recompense fund as approved by the central Bank of Nigeria have been transformed into an atm card and mailed already to you. Because we did not receive a confirmation of your mailing address before the dispatch took place, it was mailed to a counterpart in USA whom voluntarily agreed to receive it on your behalf through DHL after paying your mailing fee. Below are the tracking details:
 
 
DHL Website: www. dhl.com
Tracking number: 2816607032
 
 
Note that the delivery had been on transit but only arrived a while ago. You're to contact her and let her have your mailing address where she shall mail the card to. Kindly note that you're to refund her the $350 which she paid on your behalf before the mailing took place for her to mail the card to you. Contact her through the e-mail:
 
 
 
willyray@superposta.com or call him on; +1269 3399506, her name is Mrs.Stacy Snyder  You must thank her  since she saved you from loosing this recompense atm card worth $850,000.00 which was almost canceled as a result of your negligence. Let her tell you how to send her back her refund of $350 and make sure you send it to her so that she will mail your card to you. Confirm receipt of this e-mail.
 
 
Regards,
Mr. Sanusi  Lamido,
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources: