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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: "FEDERAL RESERVE BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frboffice@webmail.hu>
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2017 21:07:43 +0300
Subject: URGENT PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK
33 Liberty St, New York,
NY 10045.
 
 
 
RE: PAYMENT RELEASE NOTIFICATION
 
 
 
Attention: Fund Beneficiary,
 
 
This is to inform you that we have received an immediate payment release instruction from the United Nation, European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release your over due payment of $10.5 million United States dollars to you without any further delay.
 
We have been made to understand that all your attempts to receive your over due payment failed because, you have been dealing with some corrupt Bank/government officials. We therefore advise that you stop every further communication or dealings with any other office or individual for security reasons as further communication with them might affect your chances of receiving your fund.
 
In order to ensure you receive your payment within 72 banking hours from now, we shall set up an online banking account in your name, after which the online account access details will be sent to you for your easy access/transfer of funds into any account of your choice.
 
Kindly provide your personal details as required below for further processing of your online banking account:
 
 
(1). FIRST NAME:_______________________________________________
 
(2). MIDDLE NAME:______________________________________________
 
(3). LAST NAME:________________________________________________
 
(4). DATE OF BIRTH:____________________________________________
 
(5). HOME ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
 
(6). STATE:____________________________________________________
 
(7). COUNTRY:__________________________________________________
 
(8). ZIP CODE:_________________________________________________
 
(9). HOME CONTACT PHONE:_________________________________________
 
(10) PERSONAL PHONE:_____________________________________________
 
(11) OCCUPATION:__________________________________________________
 
(12) OFFICE ADDRESS:______________________________________________
 
(13). OFFICE PHONE:_______________________________________________
 
(14)  NAME OF NEXT OF KIN:________________________________________
 
(15). ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN:______________________________________
 
(16) NEXT OF KIN'S PHONE:_________________________________________
 
(17) RELATIONSHIP WITH NEXT OF KIN:________________________________
 
(18) A SCANNED COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH:_________________
 
 
We shall process your Online Banking account upon confirmation of your personal details as required above.
 
 
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
 
 
Best Regards,
 
 
William C. Dudley
PRESIDENT FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK

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