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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: "Approved Payment" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drjohndave500@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 19:50:48 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT 5th June 2012

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
700 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20431
Tel : + 1 (408) 498-1055
USA

We have this on 5th June 2012, received a payment credit Instruction from
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to credit your Account with your
full contract funds from the United State reserve Account with our bank.

We apologies for the delay of your Payment and all the Inconveniences you
encountered while pursuing this payment. However, from the Records of
outstanding Unpaid Fund with the IMF and World Bank, your Name was
discovered as next on the list of the outstanding unpaid list who has not
yet received their Payments.

We wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole and
your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you
respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in my file, you’re
outstanding Payment is US$1,000.000.00 (One Million United States Dollars)
.Kindly re-confirms to me the followings:

Your Full Name:-----------------------------
You’re Complete Address:-----------------------------
Country:-----------------------------
Direct Telephone Number:-----------------------------
Mobile Number:-----------------------------
Nearest airport:-----------------------------
Age:-----------------------------
Occupation:-----------------------------

As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment will be
made to you via diplomatic Courier delivery in accordance to World Bank
and IMF Recommendations. A diplomat with international travel immunity
will be contracted to deliver the Funds at your doorstep.

THANKS
YOURS SINCERELY,
Dr John Dave
Executive Governor (IMF)

Anti-fraud resources: