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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: "United Nations Organization" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wale.kent01@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 15:47:37 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT

Dear unpaid Beneficiary,

The United Nations in collaboration with the F.B.I. has devised a much secure means of paying your scam compensation money through our verification officer. This will eliminate exposure of your bank account information to people and avoid identity fraud. Your funds valued (Five Million United States Dollars) will be paid through an online bank account.

You are to contact our verification officer Mr. Wale Kent on Email: wale.kent01@yahoo.com or call +1 347-377-8158 with the following details.

(A)Present billing Address(B)Home and Mobile Telephone(c) valid Identification

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Carman L. Lapointe.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight.

Anti-fraud resources: