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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: "BARRISTER HENRY MCFADEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un.comp.office2001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:35:37 +0100
Subject: UN.COMPENSATION PAYMENT

<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor=#FFFFFF leftmargin=5 topmargin=5 rightmargin=5 bottommargin=5>
<FONT size=2 color=#000000 face="Arial">
<DIV>
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL</DIV>
<DIV>
OVERSIGHT SERVICES.INTERNAL AUDIT, MONITORING,</DIV>
<DIV>
CONSULTING AND INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. LAGOS NIGERIA.</DIV>
<DIV>
E-MAIL: un.comp.office2001@gmail.com</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
Dear Beneficiary,</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
This is the 3rd time i`m writing you this e-mail without a response. I came back to Nigeria after series of complaints from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Australia,South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria at the rate of scam/fraudulent activities going on in this country. </DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
This e-mail you have received is an on going compensation payment of US$1,000,000.00(ONE Million United States Dollars) to victims of scam and fraud. Your email address was among that of scammed victims within African region which implies that you are beneficiary to Five Million United States Dollars. The United Nation`s office will be responsible for your payment because of the inconsistency in the Nigerian system.</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
After series of meetings held by the Nigerian Government and the United Nations All fees for documentation and costs of transfer have been cancelled and you are now going to receive your compensation money through the United Nations office. Your funds will be sent to you via our international platinum ATM CARD that has been attached the United Nation`s account in Lagos. This card can be used to withdraw cash from the United Nations account in your bank, it can be used at any interswitch ATM MACHINE and can also be used to make online payments.</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
We are making this payment exercise easy and secure through our verification officer in Lagos. You are only going to pay a $350 (three Hundred and Fifty Dollars) fee for notarization,insurance and shipment. You are to contact the verification officer immediately for the release/transfer of your approved compensation fund valued $1.000,000.00 ( ONE Million United States Dollars only) by our international platinum ATM CARD. As a matter of urgency, you are to reconfirm the following:</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
(A)Full names as will appear on card(A)Correct billing Address(B)Home and Mobile Telephone numbers. As soon as you send this information to the verification officer he will direct you accordingly on the release of your Fund through our account holders bank.</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
Sincerely yours,</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
Mrs. Carman L. Lapointe</DIV>
<DIV>
Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director</DIV>
<DIV>
Office of the UN. African Region.</DIV>
<DIV>
&nbsp;</DIV>
</FONT>
</BODY></HTML>

Anti-fraud resources: