joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC <unionbank@sdta.cn>
Reply-To: unionbankplcbranisol@myway.com
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:26:09 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION: YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS


UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
FROM THE DESK OF:
DR. MICHAEL COLLINS
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
TELE: 234 0805736386.
ATTENTION: YOUR INHERITANCE FUNDS
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT ) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU OR THROUGH OUR LONDON OFFICE BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER. MEANWHILE, A WOMAN M/S JANET WHITE CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION:
NAME JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR REP, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS FORMATIONS FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALID US$13.5M US DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT INFO. THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR BEHALF.
1. YOUR FULL NAME:.....................................................................
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS:...............................................................
3. YOUR TELEPHONE...................................................................
4. FAX............................................................................................
5. AGE.............................................................................................
6 SEX:.............................................................................................
7. YOUR OCCUPATION.................................................................
8. YOUR ACCOUNT DETAILS WHERE YOU WANT YOUR FUND TO TRANSFER INTO:
..............................................................................................……………………........
.......................................................................................……………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………….
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS, TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MS. WHITE, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT TO SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.
WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERRING OF THIS FUND MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU, MAKE SURE YOU SEND THE DETAILS OF YOUR ACCOUNT CORRECTLY.
PLEASE RE-CONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION AND CALL MY DIRECT LINE: 234 8057362386.
BEST REGARDS,
DR. MICHAEL COLLINS
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN/REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
CC: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (C.B.N)
CC: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
CC: FEDERAL EXECUTIVES COUNCIL
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS
CC: SENATE PRESIDENT
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA
CC: WORLD BANK AUDITORS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam