joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Andrew Tweedie" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <f.departmentdirector@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2017 00:58:07 -0700
Subject: Important Update

Dear Beneficiary

I hereby inform you that IMF-International Monetary Fund conducted an audit on the account recently. And during our recent auditing, we discovered the total sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars Only (US$10,500,000.00 ) which is an approved Inheritance/Contract/Lottery payment in your name but still unclaimed/unpaid.

Having received this vital payment notification letter, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment with us within 24hours.

Here are our methods of payment:

1. By International Certified Bank Draft
2. By Bank to Bank Telegraphic Transfer
3. By Cash At Our U.K Payment Center
4. By ATM Card

We believe in giving you choice; which is why we offer a range of services to pick and choose from, so you really can't go wrong. We are so certain
that you will be completely satisfied with our wonderful service.

In order for us to work as efficiently as possible, it is understood that your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

Yours Faithfully,
For:International Monetary Fund.

Andrew Tweedie
Finance Department Director
Office of Internal Audit and Inspection Director

Anti-fraud resources: