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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: "MR.OKOFU PAUL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrokofupaul494@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2016 09:23:19 +0100
Subject: MR.OKOFU PAUL DIRECTOR..

FROM THE DESK OF: MR.OKOFU PAUL
DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
 
ATTENTION:BENEFICIARY.
 
Following the protest of the International Community, The World Bank,
IMF and the instruction by the President (Muhammadu Buhari) that
all outstanding foreign debts especially Contract payment should be
released to the beneficiaries forthwith unconditionally.
 
YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $15.5M THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER
DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX
TRANSFER (KTT )-DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE
FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER. MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY
OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE
REPRESENTATIVE.
 
HERE ARE HER INFORMATION
NAME JANET DURA
BANK NAME: CITI BANK,YORK.
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK, USA.
ACCOUNT Number: 6503809428.
 
PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS
WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BEHELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.THE RESERVE BANK
GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR
FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS
REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL
REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN
INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS FIRST QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.
 
HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
JANET DURA,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WORKING
DAYS FROM TODAY.
 
BEST REGARDS,
 
MR.OKOFU PAUL
DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC.
E-MAIL:mrokofupaul494@yahoo.com.ph

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