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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: "Jeffry Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jeffry.cole706@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 May 2021 07:32:00 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
In Partnership with FBI/NW3C/IAI
 
REF: FLP-IP/2422-FM10089/0877
RE: Internet Crime Victim Restitution
 
INTENDED ONLY FOR: [ Victim’s Email]
 
Our records indicate that you are eligible to receive restitution for one or more the internet fraud schemes you’ve being a victim of. See necessary case details below.
 
Case on apprehended 77 Nigerian nationals internet fraudsters who was arrested on 252 count charge of fraud and racketeering in the United States on September 2019 as being closed.
 
The case was closed base on the following terms;
 
1) Restitution Order: seized assets shall be liquidated and and converted into a restitution fund;
2) Time served plus 68 months and;
3) 10 years of probation and possible deportation, court documents shows all the above (available upon request).
 
The perpetrators and other groups of co-offenders had over 2000 aliases originating from Russia, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, London and many more masking their original identities. Our records indicate that you have been a victim of the fraud because your contact details were found on several devices belonging to the perpetrators.
 
Following court orders, this makes you eligible to receive restitution for damages caused by their crimes.
 
Being that the syndicates operated on an international scale and victimize hundreds of individuals and companies of several nationalities; we determined that the investigation had to be kept private and away from public media to maintain unitary judgment and integrity in international relations. Because this was a private investigation, all victims (including yourself) were represented by a professional court-appointed public defender.
 
An (American Law Firm), with over ten years of experience on similar cases, after having pursued the (subjects) case for almost two years, successfully secured restitution for US$1,459,910.00 for each victim.
 
Restitution are ordered to be paid immediately. To start receiving your restitution benefits, contact the (Law Firm) at: ? 
 
*Note that all entries must be claimed no later than March 24th 2021. Be sure to quote your Reference Number in all correspondence.
 
Sincerely Yours,
 
jeffry.cole706@gmail.com
Internet Relations
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Anti-fraud resources: