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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: "NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unccdeptch@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:41:45 -0700
Subject: Transfer of US$2,500,000.00 to your bank account

Federal Ministry Of Finance
Ahmadu Bello Way,
Nigeria

ATTENTION

Congratulations you qualify for claims US$2,500,000

We at this office wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of all unclaimed 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 transfer 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 since you do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.

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

For the immediate payment of your US$2,500,000.00, kindly forward your
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS:
OCCUPATION and AGE:
Directly to my private E-mail: unccdeptch@yahoo.co.jp

Upon receipt of the above information from you, we will direct you on the next procedural step to take hence the above detailed information is absolutely necessary for the processing of your payment accordingly.

Congratulations once again

Yours sincerely,

Mrs.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance

Anti-fraud resources: