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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: "Patricia N .Sporns" <dtnghia@ecopharma.com.vn>
Reply-To: <spornsn1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 13:27:24 -0700
Subject: UN Compensation Payment.

COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF $500,000.00 VIA ATM MASTERCARD
 
We have actually been authorized by the newly appointed Minister of finance and the governing body of the United Nations Monetary Unit to investigate the unnecessary delay of your payment, recommended and approved in your favor. During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily delayed by corrupt officials of the bank especially from Africa in attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your payment.
 
The United Nations and the international Monetary Fund (IMF) has chosen to pay out all the compensation funds to 50 beneficiaries who are enlisted in our database from all over the world through ATM MasterCard as this is a global payments technology that enables consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments to use these digital currency instead of cash and cheques to help facilitate a cashless society for security purposes and reduce fraudulent attempt. You can opt for other means of receiving this payment we are welcome to listen to your suggestions and make changes to your payment.
 
We have concluded arrangement for your payment to be paid to you via these means and this will be issued on your name and shall be posted directly to your address via  any courier services available in your country by our paying bank. Upon your contact with us, the sum 500,000.00(Five Hundred thousand United State dollars) will be credited into the ATM MasterCard and this will enable you to withdraw your funds in any ATM machines in your country with a minimum withdrawal of Eight hundred United State Dollars ($800) per day. Your limit can be increase upon your request.
In this regards, you are to contact and furnish us with the requested information to enable us forward same the directorate of international payment and transfer with the followings:
 
Your Full name, your full resident address and a valid form of identification and valid direct telephone line and stating time to reach you on it
 
We require your urgent response to this email as directed to avoid further delay.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Patricia N. Sporns
Public Information Officer
United Nations
 
 

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