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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: "MR. JIM SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimsmith_frb-washington2@livemail.com.bd>
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:50:47 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE FROM BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

AUNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
20TH STREET AND CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20551 USA



ATTN: BENEFICIARY,


PAYMENT NOTICE FROM BANK FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD


THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE RECEIVED A CREDIT INSTRUCTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, C.B.N TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT WORTH US$10.5MILLION FROM THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT RESERVE ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK.


HOWEVER, WHAT WE REQUIRE FROM YOU IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT IS YOUR PERSONAL & BANKING PARTICULARS AS STATED BELOW:


{1}. YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS=
{2}. YOUR TELEPHONE, AND FAX=
{3). BANK NAME AND ADDRESS=
{4). NAME ON ACCT AND ACCT NUMBERS=
(5). SWIFT CODE / ROUTING NUMBERS=
(6). YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION=
(7). SCAN COPY OF DRIVERS LICENCE OR WORK ID=


BE INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY WE HEAR FROM YOU WITH YOUR BANKING PARTICULARS.


ONCE MORE, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK WILL NOT HESITATE TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 48 HOURS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL RESERVE BANK FUND RELEASE ORDER REGULATIONS.


YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WITH THE ABOVE REQUESTED PARTICULARS IS HIGHLY NEEDED TO ENABLE US COMMENCE ON THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT.


YOURS TRULY,


MR. JIM SMITH,
SECRETARY, FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD


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