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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: "c.atkin@blumail.org" <c.atkin@blumail.org>
Reply-To: plscontacton01@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 03:07:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: MAKE QUICK CONTACT FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENT!





































































INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
58, RUE DE MOILLEBEAU, 1209 GENEVA-SWITZERLAND
TEL: (41-22) 718 03 00,  FAX: (41-22) 718 03 03
 
REF.: IMF/SCMV-86769
 
THIS IS FOR YOUR URGENT ATTENTION!!!
 

RE: YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF USD1,000,000.00.
 
Based
on the present anti-fraud/scam war, the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) Anti-fraud team in collaboration with the African Union (AU) are
making sure that financial fraud is wiped out in the Africa continents
completely. The Internet Service Providers have noticed an increased
email traffic originating from Africa to other continents, hence the
action of the security operatives.
  
In this regard, three
hundred and six (306) bank and government officials have been arrested
in so many African and European countries so far and arrest is still
going on. We have recovered the total sum of US$3.2 Billion from them
in both cash and assets confirmed to have come from their victims and
foreign beneficiaries' of both contract funds, inheritance funds and
lottery winnings. Thousands of email addresses of victims (which
includes yours) have also been recovered from their address books. It
is at this juncture that we are contacting you because you are now
listed as one of the beneficiaries of the IMF/AU compensation payment
of 2011 batch "A".
 
The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the  African Union (AU) are
making refunds of US$1,000,000.00 each to all foreigners whom his/her
email address is listed on the recovered address book of these arrested
fraudulent officials. This refund is of two types:-
(a) Those who
are beneficiaries of either contract, inheritance or lottery funds. (b)
Those who are simply found to be scam victims, by receiving fraudulent
and scam email letters from these officials, will receive a flat rate
compensation of US$1,000,000.00 each.
 
Your
compensation payment will be release to you through the office of our
West African Finance Director on your contact to them as instruction
for the release of your compensation payment has already been passed to
them and the issuing bank. You have to direct your communication to our
West African Finance Director ONLY on the below information to claim
your compensation payment:-
 
Contact Person:  Andrew Tweedie [West African Finance Director]
Email:  plscontacton01@yahoo.co.jp  
Telephone: +234-7052254443
 
Endeavour to send the following details required for verification and subsequent release of your compensation payment.
===================================================
1. Full Names:..................................................
2. Address:......................................................
3. Telephone/Mobile:.....................................
4. Age and Gender:..........................................
5. Nationality:...................................................
6.
Occupation:...................................................
====================================================
NOTE:
You are hereby advised to disassociate yourself from any form of
communication with these bank and government officials mostly from
African countries and follow our guidelines.  
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Sign:
Mrs. Caroline Atkinson
External Relations Dept Director. 
IMF Geneva-Switzerland.

Anti-fraud resources: