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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: "Carroll Oneill" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carrolloneill26qa@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:35:03 -0800
Subject: It’s very important message, Look there is an error mix-up somewhere

Hello Dear,

I received the check for ($9,000,000.00 ) from your client late last week and I placed it on my company bank account, due to Christmas Holidays, the bank has just called me today, after verifying the source of fund is genuine. The money is cleared and available for withdrawal, In the meantime I checked with both the money transfer services -Western Union, Money gram, and they do not send funds to Africa from this country anymore and they would not tell me Why that is the case. They cannot send this large an amount at all Anywhere in the world. The nearest office would be a couple of hours drive from my office. In any case and I would be unable to leave work to do that, whereas the bank is only a five minute walk.

Therefore can you please supply the bank account information you said you would supply. I need the account information where, I am to transfer this money to immediately. so I can print it out and take it to the bank with me, where to transfer the funds to. I would like to do it today, in a space of 2 hours you will have it in your account, or tomorrow at the latest. The bank is demanding some money from me, am not sure yet, they told me to come back with some Euros for them to open an account for you, in your name. I am in board meeting for the rest of today, so it will be difficult to reach me on the telephone but I will check my email every hour to see if you have sent the information I need. If yes, I'll excuse myself to run down and transfer $9,000,000.00 immediately.

The bank advised the $9,000,000.00 will be transferred immediately so you will have your money within 2 hours of sending me the info, providing you get it to me before the bank closes. It's now just before 9am so you have about 7-8 hours to get back to me today.

Am so happy that your $9,000,000.00 is currently reflected on my bank account, I will be glad to transfer the fund to you immediately. The $9,000,000.00 will go a long way for you and your house hold,

Thank you for everything you have done and I am looking forward to
Spending my commission! My family & I are so happy about you, and my Husband and my 3 kids praise your spirit with you previous effort of making a huge transfer successful.

Am happy will fund with my shear By building charity home, in
Southern Sudan & Congo D.R, ETC.

Thanks & Best Regards,
Carroll ONeill

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