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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: "Rev Dr Steven" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <steveubn@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 16:04:45 -0700
Subject: BANK INTERVENTION ON YOUR FUND

FROM THE DESK OF:DR STEVEN JO
THE DIRECTOR OF TELX UNION BANK
#34,MARINA STREET
LAGOS-NIGERIA
Following to the recent approval by the senate committee on debt reconciliation In line with the world Bank auditorium from USA in over due inheritance/contract payment which has been approve and assign to the union bank for immediate release of your fund US$6.5M. Your mail has been received and well noted by our department as you have been cleared for payment by the Verifications Unit.
 
However, with regard to provision of section 117 degree of the 1999 constitution,all foreign payment fund has been re-approved and assigned to UNION BANK of AFRICA  for immediate released to the beneficiary as US$6.500.000 have be approve to you as the bonofy beneficiary.
I would like to inform you that we are at this moment waiting for the approved certificate from the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and for prompt actualization of this mandate within the shortest time frame, we have authentically obtained a certified irrevocable payment certificate to approve your payment as the rightful beneficiary. We have assure and guarantee that fund will be release to you as  beneficiary and our competency/credibility to achieve success within the next few days upon your compliance with the rule and regulations of our banking procedures.
Note: that we have finalize all the necessary consultation with the concerns regarding your payment both the Certified Clearance and International Inheritance/contract payment approval with the bank. To maintain absolute transparency in our dealings with you, you are free to contact the management of the union Bank plc for more verification and clarification in our dealing with you,
 
Therefore you are obligated to comply with the requirement without delay in other for us to proceed on your payment as soon as possible BY reconfirming your banking details where the funds will be transfer to.
 
(1) Your full names:
(2) Contact address:
(3) Tel-Fax/cell phone numbers:
(4) Occupation/Position:
(5) Name of company if any:
(6) Age and marital status.
 
Thank you for your maximum cooperation.
 
Yours faithfully,
Rev Dr Steven
(Dir. General)

Anti-fraud resources: