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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: Ms. Rita A Churchill <no_reply@goldnet.it>
Reply-To: Ms. Rita A Churchill <mrs099266@gmail.com>
Date: 7 Mar 2024 22:11:41 +0000
Subject: RE: Attention: My Dear Friend ...

Attention: My Dear Friend,

I am Ms. Rita A Churchill. A computer scientist with the Federal
Reserve Bank. I am 25 years old, and I just started working with
the Federal Reserve Bank. I came across your file which was
marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study
it and found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and
certificates but the fund has not been released to you. The most
annoying thing is that they cannot tell you the truth that on no
account will they ever release the fund to you.

Please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria. I believe this is
the right to email you and inform you about your transaction
stage; you may not understand it because you are not a banker.
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD
DISK we call it HD120 GIG. I will buy two of it, recopy your
information, destroy the previous one, and punch the computer to
reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours.

I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file, after which I
will run away from my city to meet with you. If you are
interested. Do get in touch with me immediately on my Email ID:
mrs099266@gmail.com and also you should send to me your
convenient Tel/Fax numbers for easy communications and also re
confirm your banking details, so that there won't be any
mistakes.

For phone conversation, please call me on my mobile line if you
don't mind Sir/Madam. I can send it to you, if you demand
+13604542314 I have your details already in my file, try and
reconfirm it to avoid mistakes. This is a very serious issue. I
am not asking you to send me any fees No, rather you will use
your eyes and confirm your payment in your account. The total
figure I have here is about $10.5 Million. I am ready to do your
transfer if you promise to protect me.

Regards,

Ms. Rita A Churchill

Anti-fraud resources: