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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: "DR.NGOZI OKONJO" <dummy@derektownsend.com>
Reply-To: ngozweala@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:07:34 -0800
Subject: Transfer of US$2,500,000.00 to your bank account

Federal Ministry Of Finance
Ahmadu Bello Way,
Nigeria

ATTENTION:

We at this office wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough
review of all unclaimed Inheritance/Contract funds transfer release
documents in conjunction with the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate
payment of your long delayed funds starting with a part-payment of
US$2,500,000.00 to your designated bank account.

The audit reports given to us, shows that you have been going through hard
times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which
has been delayed by some dubious officials.

We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office until we finally transfer your
US$2,500,000.00 into your bank account.

Should follow our directives, your funds US$2,500,000.00 will be credited in
your bank account by telegraphic transfer within five (5) bank working days
and copies of the funds transfer release documents will be sent to you and
your bankers for confirmation.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly
forward your
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS:
OCCUPATION and AGE:

Directly to my private E-mail: ngoziokonjoa@skymail.mn
OR ngozweala@yahoo.co.jp

Yours sincerely,

Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Mrs).
Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance

Anti-fraud resources: