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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: "Dr.Williams Adam" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williams1972@zing.vn>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:33:38 -0400
Subject: RELEASE OF YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS.

FROM THE DESK OF DR.WILLIAMS ADAM.
DIRECTOR WORLD BANK DELEGATES IN AFRICA.
OUR REF: WBD/IRD/CBX/028/2012
PHONE/FAX: +234-802-702-0731.

ATTN: CERTIFIED BENEFICIARY,

RELEASE OF YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE
FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX
TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU THROUGH
ANY OF OUR CORRESPONDENT BANK NOMINATED BY THE
SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.

MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO
WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE
REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION FOR YOU TO
CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE IF THIS WOMAN IS TRULY FROM
YOU OR NOT AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE
HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT-

NAME:MRS PAMELA DONEGAN
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF
URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU. YOU ARE REQUESTED
TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATIONS
PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALID US$4.5M US DOLLARS
WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.

THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR
BEHALF. INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU FOR VERIFICATION
IS AS FOLLOW:

1. YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS:
2. YOUR FULL BANKING DETAILS
3. YOUR TELEPHONE/ FAX :
4. SEX/AGE:
5. YOUR PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE.
6. YOUR OCCUPATION.

AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH
ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS
MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.THE WORLD BANK AND I.M.F. IN
AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY,THE
SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE
FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE
BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL
REMITTANCE/FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER
ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUNDS THIS FIRST QUARTER
PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2012 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION ON DEBT SETTLEMENT.

HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS
DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.DONEGAN, IF WE DO NOT HEAR
FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM
TODAY.
WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE IN TRANSFERRING
OF THIS FUND MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU THOUGH IT WAS DUE
TO OUR BUSY SCHEDULE IN PAYING OTHER BENEFICIARIES
WHOM THEIR FILES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BEST REGARDS,

DR.WILLIAMS ADAM.

DIRECTOR WORLD BANK DELEGATES IN AFRICA.
CC: UNITED NATIONS
CC: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
CC: ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICES
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: WORLD BANK/IMF

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