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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: Dr kodjo Mimosa <officefile_2014@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: <drkodjomimosa@yandex.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 12:40:36 -0800
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary

From The Desk of:Kodjo Mimosa
Director: Foreign Department
Sterling Bank, Port Novo
Benin Republic
Tel: +22968651839
Direct Line: +22968651757
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
 
We wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of your Inheritance/Contract funds transfer release documents in conjunction with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment of US$2,800,000.00 Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to your designated bank account from their offshore account with us.
The audit reports given to us, shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.
 
We therefore advise that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office from now onwards. The only thing required from you is to obtain the Unconditional and Non-Residential Clearance Approval to enable us credit your account directly by
telegraphic  transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.
 
Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and should reflect in your bank account within five 5 bank working days from the day you obtain this Unconditional and Non-Residential Clearance Approval.
 
For details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly
provide us with the below:
 
FULL NAME AND AGE:
FULL BANKING COORDINATES
DETAILS AND TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS:
--------------------------------------
I await your swift and urgent response to this notification
 
Dr kodjo Mimosa
Director: Foreign Department
Sterling Bank, Port Novo
Benin Republic
Tel: +22968651839
Direct Line: +22968651757

Anti-fraud resources: