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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: "MATHEWS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phillipsmathews8@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:05:13 -0700
Subject: Reply c

FROM : REV FR PHILLIPS MATHEWS
DIRECTOR : INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)
TEL:+2347042-627179
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
VERIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT/WINNINGS FILE.
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING PAYMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, YOUR NAME/PARTICULARS WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTOR/INHERITANCE/LOTTERY WINNER WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT.
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED FROM THE ABOVE PAN AFRICAN BANK(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA) AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT FROM THE RECORD IN MY FILE, YOU ARE FOUND AS ONE OF THE ABOVE BENEFICIARIES FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED NATIONS YET TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING  PAYMENT OF(US$10.5m)
KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWING:
1) YOUR FULL NAME......................................
2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS ...............................
3) YOUR FULL BANKING DATA..............................
4) PHONE,  AND MOBILE...............................
5) PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS..............................
6) AGE AND MARITAL STATUS..............................
 
 
AS SOON AS THE ABOVE INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU IN A :
A, CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT
B, AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE
C, DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT
D, BY  CASH PAYMENT .
ANYONE OF YOUR CHOICE .
YOU CAN EMAIL ME ON MY DIRECT MAIL ADDRESS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MEMO FOR MORE DETAILS.
 
REMAIN BLESSED
REV FR PHILLIPS MATHEWS
TEL:+2347042-627179
NB: DIRECT YOUR REPLY TO : phillipsmathews8@gmail.com

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