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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: "Payment Notification" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <payment_notification_frankthomas@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2013 12:56:08 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION CALL +2347045923697 FOR PAYMENT

Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
From: Frank Thomas (Remittance)
Mobile Tel:+ 2347045923697
 
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION CALL +2347045923697 FOR PAYMENT
 
Dear Beneficiary,
 
We have been receiving a number of mails from people who claim that they have been contacted by certain unscrupulous people posing as UNITED NATIONS STAFFS OR AGENT. These unscrupulous people promise their intended victims financial rewards for allowing their accounts to be used for remittances from UNITED NATION purportedly held by deceased third parties or from looted public funds or proceeds from lottery.
 
These victims are promised a percentage of the funds purportedly held in fictitious accounts of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and other part of the world, and are requested to pay certain preliminary fee or charge for processing the transaction. As soon as these preliminary fees are paid, the fraudsters discontinue any correspondence with their victims. Take notice that these unscrupulous people are neither members of staff nor agents of the United Nation. They are fraudsters who belong to syndicates all over the world.
 
This email is to all the people that have been scammed or extorted money from due to advance free fraud round the World, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to Compensate each and every one of you, with the sum of US$10,500.00.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) this includes people that have had an unfinished transaction or International businesses that failed due to Government problems or irregularities.
 
The United Nation is working in conjunction with FBI, WORK BANK, IMF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, to ensure that you receive this fund, you are kindly advice to stop all further transaction with any individual or firm, to enable you receive this fund. Also note that this firm will not be responsible if you are been scammed once again. To enable Thomas Frank start the process of transferring the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars to you, below are the required information's needed.
 
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS :
3. YOUR SCAN ID COPY
4. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER :
5. YOUR OCCUPATION :
6. YOUR BANK NAME :
7. YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER:
8. YOUR BANK ADDRESS.
9. YOUR ROUNTING NUMBER :
10. ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION,S
 
Note that if you have been scam by this good for nothing fraudster that you should provide details to this office, because it will go a long way to help you receive your fund.
 
I have been given a very short period to make sure you get your fund, so it will be better if you respond to this email urgently and I will advise you on how best to get your fund urgent after the normal procedure have been  settled.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Frank Thomas
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
(Remittance Officer)
General for Internal Oversight.

Anti-fraud resources: