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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: "IMF OFFICE." <infofile63@cantv.net>
Reply-To: co_operative@mail2finance.com
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:10:12 -0430 (VET)
Subject: URGENT

 
The IMF Global intelligence monitoring network wish to inform you that the transaction or money transfer attempt failed because the Africa correspondents are incompetent to handle such a massive transaction therefore funds was diverted (contract was awarded) to Co-operative Bank United Kingdom.. Therefore you are advised to contact them immediately with the information outlined below: Cooperative Bank United Kingdom Contact Person: Mr. Mike Walker Phone: +44704 573 3692 E-mail: (co_operative@mail2finance.com) Kindly identify yourself to them with the following code (CO90991031) and a little letter of reference to show that you are the rightful beneficiary.

Anti-fraud resources: