joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "HM Treasury" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hmtreasury6a@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 00:45:22 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT TRANSFER NOTIFICATION.

Dear Sir
Ref.UK/PP157/BB-LLN56489362/09

Payment Transfer Notification of GBP3, 500.000.00 Pounds
The treasury directorate division of the UK Financial Monetary Service Authority writes to inform you that we have credit advice documentary evidence in your favor to authorize the release of GBP3,500,000.00(Three Million Five hundred Thousand Pounds Only) to you being an outstanding payment accrued interest on your contract/inheritance payment.
As the only authorized officer saddle with the responsibility of making sure you get and confirm the transaction, you are hereby advised to carefully confirm to us your receiving banking details for verification, so that upon clearance confirmation of your details, we shall direct the paying institution in London to immediately release and remit your payment without any further delay .
Please be advice to see this notice as the very last correspondence message sent to you.
Await your immediate attention on the matter With Kindest.
Regards
Mr. Frank Williams
Chief Executive Officer
HM Treasury London
1 Horse guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ; London UK
Direct all reply to: (hmtreasury2@gmail.com)
Office Tel: 447024071708

Anti-fraud resources: