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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: "Thomas Blackman" <thomasblackman64@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <thomasblackman65@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 10:58:49 -0700
Subject: Payment from International monetary fund (IMF)

>From the desk of: Mr. Thomas Blackman,
Director Debt Reconciliation Department
International monetary fund (IMF)
Tell:+234-802-441-0169
.


Attention: beneficiary,

Your name and email was found (in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, Americans) among the list of individuals and companies that their unpaid funds has been located to a Bank in United Kingdom .

Your name appeared among the beneficiaries, who will receive a part-payment of your contractual inheritance sum of US$11 Million Dollars and it has been approved already for months.

However, we received an email from one Mr. Virgle Lee Samples, who told us that he is your representative and even explained that you entered into an agreement with him, to help you in receiving your funds. We want to confirm from you before we can make the transfer.

You are required to reconfirm the following information for verification and
Confirmation purposes:

1) Your Full Name:
2) Address:
3) Country:
4) Age:
5) Occupation:
6) Telephone Number:
7) Cell/Mobile Number:
8) Next Of Kin:

Once again, I apologize to you on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF) for failure to pay your funds in time, which according to records in the system had been long overdue.

Your urgent response required.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Thomas Blackman
Dir. Debt Reconciliation Department
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
This email, its content and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may be legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not divulge any of its contents to anyone and should delete the email and contact the sender on the telephone number shown above or via return email. Messages sent via this medium may be subject to delays, non-delivery and unauthorised alteration. This email has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but neither Dataforce Interact Ltd nor any of its subsidiaries makes any warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. Any opinions or recommendations expressed herein are solely those of the author. Dataforce Interact Ltd is a company registered in England, No. 06943654 and registered office address of: 6th Floor, 1 London Wall Buildings, London, EC2M 5PP.

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