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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: "Mrs. Elizabeth Clayton," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgeneralworldbnkg0014@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:40:10 -0400
Subject: From The Desk of the Secretary-General,World Bank Group,

>From Desk of the Secretary-General,
World Bank Group, 124 Lee Green Road,
London, United Kingdom.

Attn:Beneficiary,

I am Mrs. Elizabeth Clayton, Bill and Exchange Manager/ Secretary General, Administrator the World Bank Finance Group, London Branch, set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide. This Group is responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contract, inheritance and lotto winning claims by companies and individuals and directs the paying Financial Institutions (Banks) worldwide to make immediate payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without further delay.

Meanwhile, you are being legally contacted regarding the release of your long awaited and overdue fund. After a detailed review of your file, the World Bank Group has mandated that the sum stated below should be released immediately. The sum of US$3,500,000.00 (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has been approved in your favor via my desk. I therefore wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter, The fund will be release to you via your preferred mode of payment, if this committee verifies that the transaction was legitimate and if not legal, then you have been a victim of a calculated scam activity, which mean you will be among the list that will be compensated.

A compensation fund was also raise by The World Bank Group Debt Payment Office, initiated by the American Government and European Union and Asia countries inclusive. US$725 Million dollars was raised to pay all unpaid funds. Please you must respond with more details if you were scammed or you have an unpaid fund with any financial institution or any foreign body that has not been release to you due to some excuses.

Please re-confirm to us the following:
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(3) Company Name, Home Address:
(4) Profession, Age and Marital status:

Most importantly, one of the British Financial Institution has been given the mandate to release payment to you. We shall forward you with the details of the paying bank after we have received your response.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.

Mrs. Elizabeth Clayton
Debit Reconciliation Office
Attached To (Secretary-General Office)
World Bank Group.

Anti-fraud resources: