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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: "Mike Frederick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mike.federick980@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 14:03:41 -0500
Subject: DEAD OR ALIVE.

 
FROM THE DESK OF MR BAN KI MOON.
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
1845 W ORANGE GROVE RD, TUCSON, AZ, U.S.A
TELEPHONE: 520-306-2050
Attention: Beneficiary,
My name is Mr Mike Frederick, New SECRETARY TO BAN KI MOON (UNITED NATIONS) From investigation office in USA. This is to notify you that Federal Government Of United States of America Approve the sum of $2.5Million United States Dollars each to all the short listed scam victims whose name was recovered during the recent (UNITED NATIONS) investigation process going on at western union and Money gram money transfer here in the USA. Your name was found among the list of those that sent so much money through western union to Africa, after our investigation, we find out that you have sent so much money to those Fraudsters who claim to hold funds in your name without receiving anything from them.
But just yesterday it was confirmed to us that you are dead by Mr Amos Moss a British Citizen and he stated that he was coming back with your death certificate to claim your compensations later today and that is why we decided to contact to know if this is true or not.
We are working hard to stop fraud and internet scam in African countries, We got so many fraudsters arrested few days ago and one of them gave us your Name. Below are Names of those internet scammers we got arrested few days ago:
Mr. Paul Williams : Former Western Union Director.
Mr. Bobby Brown : Former Money Gram Director.
Mrs. Farida Waziri : Former e.f.c.c chairman.
Rev. Sam George : United Bank of Africa.
In case you recognize them because one of them gave us your email address and he also said that he has collected more than One Hundred Dollars from you. No Body is Above the Law, I promise you that these criminals will not go unpunished, they must be punished for this criminal act. It was on these very recommendation that Government Of the United States Approved the sum of $2.5Million Dollars to you, in other to compensate you for all your loses to those Fraudsters who Collect Money from you without given you the fund they claim to have in your name, is an order from united nation to the United States of America to compensate all the short listed scam victims whose name was recovered during the recent Police investigation process going on at western union and Money gram money transfer in Africa.
Be inform that your compensation fund valued the sum of $2.5Million Dollars has been approved and ready to be transfered to your bank account which you will provide.
Note that you are required to pay the sum of $350.00 usd immediately to this office for your compensation fund clearance process to enable our agent proceed to Homeland Security to renew your payment file and also obtain the needed insurance certificate and you are to send the required $350.00 usd in favour of Mary Elliott our protocol officer to enable us renew your payment file and also get your funds insured before your compensation fund will be delivered to you.
Below is the payment information you will use to send the required $350.00 usd to our protocol officer through western union or money gram money transfer.
Receiver's Name: MARY ELLIOTT
Location: 3969 BROOKCREST DRIVE CLEVELAND TN 37323 USA
Amount: $350.00 USD
When you send the fee with this information you are required to re-confirm your current Address, Full Names and Telephone Number to avoid wrong delivery and also to enable us confirm that you are the real owner of this Email address to avoid any mistake.
Please treat this as matter of urgency.
Mean while you should go ahead and send the required $350.00 usd to this office so that you will receive your compensation fund valued the sum of $2.5 Million Dollars which is in a dormant account.
Am given you 100% assurance that immediately you send the $350.00 usd today before the next 24 hours you will receive your fund and also don't forget to send the M.T.C.N Number with the payment details to this office immediately the payment is done. I will be waiting to hear from you soon with the payment information immediately you send the required fee. Thank you and make sure you send the fee today if you wish to receive your compensation fund from United Nations.
Note that you can only prove you are alive by sending the $350 to our representative Mary Elliott and we can treat your funds with utmost importance.
Regards.
Mr Mike Frederick.
Email: mike.federick980@gmail.com
NEW SECRETARY TO BAN KI MOON
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
 

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