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: "FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <federalministryofinance@zing.vn>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:38:19 +0100
Subject: ATTN: Dear Beneficiary,. .....(Good news about your funds)

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
Office of the Minister of Finance
12 LEKKI PENNINSULA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL: +234-708-367-4756 (Hot-Line)
Ref: FMF/SGH/019/011
Date: 9th August 2011.
 
ATTN: Dear Beneficiary .     PAYMENT FILE NUMBER: A
Dear Sir,
 
Irrevocable Release/Transfer Notice for your due funds (US$10,500,000:00).
 
Payment File No: A.
 
24Hrs Service
 
Without taking much of your time, my name is Mr. Olusegun Oluwatoyin Aganga the Honourable Minister of Finance of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This good news letter is to inform you that we have held a meeting with the American government, British Government, Inter Pol and FBI. The subject of this meeting held in Washington - USA is to eradicate the act of scam, extortion and funds delay which are presently significant with banks in Africa, London and Europe. In conclusion to this meeting, we (Federal Ministry of Finance / Bank PHB) have been appointed as the only institutions that will pay all foreign beneficiaries whom have transactions with Nigeria and other African countries. You are quite lucky to be contacted today by this authoritative office for the Release and Transfer of your intercepted Funds valued US$10,500,000:00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars only) which some greedy officials attempted to divert into a secret Account in Switzerland. Presently, the said fund i! s under the custody of this Minist
Before we can transfer the said funds into your own bank account, you must stop all further contact or communication with every other person or person(s) regarding your funds because it is only this Financial Ministry and Bank PHB that have the legitimate right and mandate to pay you accordingly.
For your immediate payment send us an email to: (federalministryoffinance@zing.vn) or call this office immediately on TEL: +234-708-367-4756
This official letter is being issued to you by "The Federal Ministry of Finance" in collaboration with The Presidency.
Copied to:
The Accountant General of The Federation.
Platinum Habib Bank (Bank PHB).
The President's office.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Olusegun Oluwatoyin Aganga.
Minister Of Finance
Federal Republic Of Nigeria.
Direct Tel: +234-708-367-4756
The Federal Ministry Of Finance. The Federal Ministry Of Finance. The Federal Ministry Of Finance. The Federal Ministry Of Finance.

Anti-fraud resources: