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: "Mr. James M. Murray" <info@ksu.uz>
Reply-To: jamemmurray@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2021 23:46:09 -0400
Subject: ***SPAM*** RE: INFORMATIVE REPORT ON YOUR PENDING TRANSACTION

U.S. Secret Service, Office of Government and Public Affairs
245 Murray Drive, Building 410,
Washington, DC 20223.
Text Only (206-552-0527)

RE: INFORMATIVE REPORT ON YOUR PENDING TRANSACTION

Good day, this is the Department of Homeland Security. We have a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face as well as internet Fraud. This requires the dedication of more than 230,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cyber security analyst to chemical facility inspector. Our duties are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear – KEEPING AMERICA SAFE and the WORLD SAFE.

It is disheartening to hear that you have been scammed and conned so many times to the extent that you are frustrated and disbelieved.

The Government has approved a total sum of Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United states Dollars (US$3,500,000.00) only as the compensation of the lost that you incurred as this was a smaller rate as some suffered more while others suffered less and the idea is to restore you back to the position that you would have been if not that you were defrauded.

The fund in question originated from the United Nations Organization. The Leaders of the African and International Crime fighters has come together to inform the world what is going on now and we have recovered over US$422 Million Dollars (Four Hundred and Twenty two Million Dollars) from the people we have apprehended and your email was found in their possession as one of their victims.

Based on this, Kindly re-confirm your Full name, Home Address, Phone/Cell Number as your immediate attention is needed for further directives.

NB: Some importers are impersonating Governmental offices, Individuals and Companies So be careful about who you respond to. Be warned, A word is enough for the wise.


Signed:
Mr. James M. Murray
Director, United States Secret Service
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528, USA

Anti-fraud resources: