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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: "Bernard Lauwers" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfregionaldebtoffice@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2023 19:20:43 -0000
Subject: Re: Swift Code: BOFA****3N.

RE / NO: 00562-IMF/ 10047/2023 
 
Attn: Dear Beneficiary,
 
We want to officially notify you that your funds valued at $1,850,000.00(One Million Eight Hundred and fifty Thousand Dollars And Zero Cents), being payment for your Overdue Accrued Inheritance/Contract winning entitlements has been programmed to be transferred to a Bank Account in the USA, following series of documents tendered by your Representative Mr. William H. Armet, and your Attorney Barrister John Swatz, of J. Swatz & Associates because Fedex could not deliver to you the draft issued initially on your behalf due to wrong information on your address .
 
They have presented a "Power of Attorney" duly signed in proxy,  which clearly stated that due to some inevitable circumstances beyond your control (ILL HEALTH) that you will not be able to finalize this payment yourself, thus appointing Mr. William H. Armet to act on your behalf. As registered under section 501(c)3 under the US Internal Revenue Code as fully vetted by the grant review committee.As a matter of urgency, we need a re-confirmation from you if the said Mr. William H. Armet and his Attorney are your True Representatives before we proceed to issue the final payment release order.
 
Meanwhile, we have to delay transfer till we hear from you confirming that you did grant permission to sign any “Deed of Assignment” in his favor, thereby making him the current beneficiary of your accrued amount of US$1,850,000.00 (Stamped Agreement) and by all alleged “Transaction” between you and William H. Armet, is in agreement between both parties that payment should be directed to account as stated below.
 
Full Bank Account Information:
 
Bank Name: Bank Of America
Bank Address: 160 E. Yorba Linda Blvd.Placentia, CA.,92870 USA.
Account Name: William H. Armet
Account Number: 07607- 44492
Routing number: 122000661
Bank Swift Code: BOFAUS3N.
 
Finally you are required to reaffirm the validation of the "Power of Attorney" duly signed in proxy for easy communication to enable facilitate your process within 5 banking days we will assume that you did transfer your ownership to Mr. William H. Armet and we will have no other option than to grant him the full amount without delay.
 
Best Regards,
 
Bernard Lauwers
Director Central Operations
Email us: imfregionaldebtoffice@aol.com
 
NOTE: If you have received this message in your SPAM / BULK folder because your ISP has introduced restrictions, we (IMF Team) kindly ask you to handle it.
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