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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: "Finance Minister" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paymentcenter020@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 08:05:20 -0700
Subject: RE: READ AND GET BACK TO ME ASAP

Attn:Sir/Madam
It might interest you to know that as the new finance minister under
this Jonathan Good luck led administration, we are set to reform our
economy by renewing and restoring the lost confidence before the
international community by paying all outstanding debts owed to
genuine beneficiaries like you. Based on the economic agenda set in
motion by the 24 man economic reform team inaugurated under the
finance ministry.
We knew that Governor of Central Bank Malam Lamido Sanusi, has caused
you to pay huge sums of money into wrong hands most  especially to
Fraudsters who frequently impersonate the identity of real Government
and Bank Officials to help make themselves and their  scam appear
legitimate.
Therefore We wish to inform you that your payment is being processed
and will be Release to you as soon as you respond to this letter.
Please re-confirm to this office the below information and also state
in details why you where unable to received your fund.
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name if any, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of your int'l passport, driver's license, or any valid ID
card, for proper identification before the payment. This is to avoid
any wrong payment.
As soon as this information's are received, your payment will be made
to you by a Wire Transfer option to your nominated bank OR  ATM, and
you can confirm it there after as soon is been made.
An ATM card is a payment card provided by a financial institution to
its customers which enables the customer to use an automated teller
machine for transactions such as: deposits, cash withdrawals,
obtaining account information, and other types of banking
transactions, often through interbank.
If by the end of 24hours you have not contacted this office, You will
consider this payment canceled as this civilian government will not be
responsible for any wrong payment /further
Thanks
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,
Finance Minister,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources: