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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: "Accountant General" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jonhotunla@yahoo.es>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2012 04:39:10 +0530
Subject: Confidential Cash Payment Arrangement......

UNOFFICIAL MEMO/STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
From The Desk Of Dr. Jonah Otunla
The Accountant General of the Federation
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Attn: Dear Certified Beneficiary
 
I am Dr. Jonah Otunla, The Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria and director of foreign contract/inheritance fund payments. On verification of various unpaid official payment files in my office, I discovered that your name was listed among the foreign beneficiaries entitled to receive their payment, thus my reason for contacting you. Sequel to the difficulties in transferring huge sums from the Nigerian banks to their foreign beneficiaries, I have therefore made a secret arrangement to move your funds out of this country through diplomatic channel, be informed that all necessary modalities have been automatically concluded to move the fund now from Nigeria to your country via Cargo Flight with a Diplomatic courier Immunity.
 
Note carefully that the content of the boxes is "Cash-MONEY” total sum of USD10.5M, but I did not disclose it to the Courier Company as "Cash-Money", rather I informed them that the boxes contain Vital "DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" belonging to my client (that’s you).
 
Furthermore, the weight of the consignment is 68kg which costs $4,970 dollars to be delivered to your country home. But On no account should you disclose the content of the boxes to the Diplomatic Courier agents or any body, to avoid them diverting the boxes containing your funds to a different destination for their own use, so do not allow them to know that the Consignment boxes contain money.
 
You are advised to get back to me immediately with your full names and mailing address where the consignment boxes would be delivered to you, and also forward  your direct telephone number where the delivery agents would contact you once they arrive your country home for the delivery of the consignment.
 
Awaiting your urgent response.
 
 
Congratulations and remain blessed.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Jonah Otunla
The Accountant General of the Federation
Headquarters
Office of the AGF
Treasury House
Ladoke Akintola Boulevard
5 Zaria Street, Garki Abuja
Tel: +234-704-528-0869
Email: dr.jonahotunla@7bmail.com

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