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: "ATTORNEY WILLIAMS F. WATSON" <bancajaplc@gmail.com>
Reply-To: internationalfinancialoffice@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2021 03:56:12 +0100
Subject: Re: Notification of Your Withheld Funds Now Recovered:

United Nations Organization & European Union.
Legal/Admin Dept on Fund Recovery Office,
External Affairs Department of UN/EU,
Department of Int'l Payment Office,
7B High Street, Tadworth, Surrey,
kt20 5sd, London - United Kingdom.
File No:34/97EU/UN-D/OP55/21.

Attention Funds Owner,

Re: Notification of Your Withheld Funds Now Recovered:
I am Attorney Williams F. Watson, Director of Attorney's United
Nations and European Union Fund Recovery Office on International
Affairs London, United Kingdom. Recently, the United Nations and
European Union has received series of complains regarding the
existence of huge sums of money that are trapped and left unclaimed in
most European and African banks and Financial Organizations especially
funds from Contracts, Next of Kin, Inheritance fund etc., The External
Affairs Department, my office was mandated by the United Nations and
European Union to investigate and recover all funds belonging to
citizens of the following countries, United States, Europeans, Asians,
Pacific Region and Australian Nationals that are trapped in banks,
finance houses and other related banks in the world.

On our investigation, we discovered a file no:34/97EU/UN-D/OP55/21,
with your name as the beneficiary. It was further discovered that some
unknown officials of the bank have fraudulently attempted to divert
your Funds valued at Twenty-Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars only to unknown accounts until we intervene and recover
these funds. My office has recovered this money and we want you to
receive it while we further our investigation to get to the root of
this evil and got the officials arrested.

More so, we have concluded an arrangement with top Banks to release
your money, this is sequel to empowerment given to us by the United
Nations as your Legal representative to ascertain that your payment is
release to you on time. Once we receive your reply indicating
interest, Readiness, Willingness and, Capability to receive your funds
then, we shall require the following details in order to apply for the
diffusion certification as an accredited counselor to you, thank you.

1). Your complete names:
2). Your Contact/Residential Address:
3). Your Direct Mobile/Telephone Number:
4). Expected Amount, US$25,5Million only:

Note, If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, that is
because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service
Provider, urge you to treat it genuinely and kindly move it to your
inbox.

Please, endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue until your funds is release to you.

I wait for your prompt response.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
Attorney Williams F. Watson.
Director, Fund Recovery Office of UN / EU.

Anti-fraud resources: