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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: "GORDON JAMES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <standardbank@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:25:53 +0900
Subject: Executive Director Standard Chartered Bank London Plc

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDS DEPARTMENT
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK PLC.
1 Basinghall Ave
City of London EC2V 5DD, United Kingdom
www.standardchartered.com

ATTN:

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

DID YOU AUTHORIZE ONE MR. WILLIAMS WHO PRESENTED DOCUMENT OF CLAIM PURPORTED TO HAVE SIGNED BY YOU FOR THE RELEASED OF YOUR PAYMENT TO HIS BANK ACCOUNT?

PLEASE RECONFIRM BACK TO ME TO AVOID ANY IRREGULARITIES AS YOUR PAYMENT IS NOW READY TO BE TRANSFERRED (BASED ON URGENT INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED THIS MORNING FROM THE PRESIDENCY OFFICE).

TO THAT EFFECT , YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO RESPOND TO ANY EMAIL, CALL OR FAX CONCERNING YOUR FUND FROM ANY BODY WHO CLAIM TO BE ME OR YOUR AGENT AS YOUR FUND IS NOW READY TO BE TRANSFERRED IMMEDIATELY BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THIS OFFICE.

YOU ARE WARNED AND ADVISED TO FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONS AS REGARDS TO YOUR FUND.

YOUR PAYMENT REF.# IS, (000999/UKBB/7535/2009.) AND YOUR WORD CODE # (777) FOR THE SECURITY OF YOUR FUND, ANY EMAIL, CALL OR FAXES WITH OUT YOUR PAYMENT NUMBERS AS STATED ABOVE ,SHOULD BE DISREGARDED IMMEDIATELY .

GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU DID AUTHORIZE? HIM TO HAVE YOUR FUND. ALSO RECONFIRM TO ME YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER I CALL YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION.

I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

REGARDS,
GORDON JAMES,
Executive Director Standard Chartered Bank London Plc

Anti-fraud resources: