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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: GARY GRAINGER <elksari2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: deb55d@frontier.com
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2022 18:05:33 -0700
Subject: RE: URGENCY

*Dear Beneficiary,We are not sure you received our previous message but we
wish to use this medium to officially inform you that following the ongoing
review of all unclaimed and delayed funds by the United Nations and the
World Bank, your payment file was forwarded to our office for immediate
payment of your long delayed outstanding funds, starting with a first
transfer of US$1,500,000.00 with reference No. USA/FM-99FL, to your bank
account.However, we are surprised to receive another application this
morning from your representative, MR JOSHUA BROWNING, stating that you
authorized him to transfer your funds to another bank account in
Switzerland and that you were recently involved in an auto accident with
your family and cannot walk right now. Could you please confirm
immediately, your relationship with MR JOSHUA BROWNING and also, confirm if
the bank account in Switzerland as shown below is now your new bank account
information to receive your funds this week.CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038
Z?RICH,SWITZERLANDACCOUNT NO:0872-456011-91IBAN: CH55 0487 2045 6011 9100
5SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ8OTKindly get in touch with us today by email with
your telephone number to confirm this information to avoid wrong transfer
of your funds, so that we can proceed with the transfer of the
US$1,500,000.00 to your correct bank account as scheduled.Thanks.Yours
sincerely,Mr. Garry Grainger.(Director,Anti-Fraud Unit Financial Services
Regulation Committee).*

Anti-fraud resources: