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: "Dr Eric Hangartner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <d_elliss3@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 07:00:40 -0700
Subject: YOU MAY TREAT AS URGENT"

Attention:
My name is Mr Joseph Smith of the International Monetary
Fund investigation unit. Attached pictures was received and
forwarded to our office here in London UK today , requesting that your unclaimed fund be paid to Messes
Jacobs Enterprises.
In the said letter of change of beneficiary/ownership,
representatives of messes Jacobs' enterprises states that you
are dead and as such your fund should be paid to him as the
next of kin to you.
Because of the elaborate global scam, we decided to contact
you for confirmation. If after two working days, no response
is received from you, it will be assumed that you are dead and
as such authorisation and approval will be granted on behalf
of Messer's Jacobs Enterprises to claim/receive your fund.
Confirm this pictures and reconfirm your Information to me the Followings.
(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) company's name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of int'l passport or any scanned identity to prove yourself.
and how you want your fund paid to you without further delay
if you are still alive.Get back to me immediately
Regards
Mr Joseph Smith
+447045733500

Anti-fraud resources: