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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Investec South Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <norbertchamini@citromail.hu>
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 11:51:28 +0200
Subject: Your outstanding payment\\

INVESTEC BANK, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
100 GRAYSTON DRIVE, SANDOWN, SANDTON, 2196
PO BOX 785700, SANDTON, 2146,
SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL: +27789617168, FAX: +2772331592
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT ?,820,000.00.
 
It is my modest obligation to write you this letter in regard to the authorization of your owed payment through our most respected financial institution (INVESTEC BANK SOUTH AFRICA). I am Norbert Chamini, The Director International Remittance Department.This is to inform you that the South Africa Government, in conjunction with the WORLD BANK AND UNITED NATIONS (UN) on foreign payment matters, have empowered this bank after much consultation and consideration, to handle all foreign payments and release funds to their appropriate beneficiaries with the help of a representative from Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As the newly appointed / accredited International Paying Bank, we have been instructed by the World Governing Bodies, together with the committee on International Debt and the Board of Foreign Payments on Unlaimed Outstanding Fund to release your overdue fund with immediate effect; with this exclusive Vide Transaction no: WHA/EUR/202 and Transfer Allocation No.: IBCL/X44/701LN/WGB/GB, Password: 339
 
 
Be informed that we have verified and certify your payment file ok as directed to us, and your file is next on the payment schedule list of our outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment before the end of this year 2018. Be advised that because of too many beneficiaries due for payment at this quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Three Million Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand British Pounds (?,820,000.00) only, this is to enable us pay other beneficiaries. To facilitate the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information below:
 
1) Your full Name and Address:
2) Phones, Fax and Mobile No. :
3) Profession, Age and Marital Status:
4) Copy of any valid form of your Identification:
 
Upon the receipt of the above mentioned information, your payment will be processed and released to you without delays. Be also informed that you are required to discontinue further communication with any other person(s) or office so as to avoid distortion of data; you are required to provide the above information for your transfer to take place immediately.Your prompt response to this above directive will be highly imperative.
 
Yours truly,
Norbert Chamini.
Director, Foreign Operations Department.
.

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