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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: "Solicitor. Williams F. Watson" <internationalfinancialoffice3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: internationalfinancialofficeuk@lawyer.com
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 22:44:59 +0100
Subject: THE RELEASE OF YOUR RECOVERED FUNDS.

European Union Fund Recovery Attorneys
External Affairs Department of UN/EU
Incorporation # 98621-0074
7b the high street, Tadworth, Surrey, kt20 5sd,
Belgium, Louzalaan 149b-1050 Brussels.
Our Ref #: FRA-EU/UN03-PED/14.

File No: 34/98GT/UB/OT22/14.

Dear Beneficiary,

Re: Notification of Your Withheld Funds Now Recovered:
I am the Director, International Affairs in the United Nations and
European Union Fund Recovery Office London, United Kingdom. Recently,
the United Nations and European Union has received succession of
complains in the existence of huge sums of money that are trapped and
left unclaimed in most African Banks, Europe and Financial
institutions around the world, the United Nations and European Union
External Affairs Department was mandated by the United Nation and
European Union to investigate and recover all funds belonging to
citizens of the following countries, Europeans, Asians, United States,
Pacific Region and Australian Nationals that are trapped in African
banks, finance houses and other related banks in the world and remit
back the recovered funds to the real owners.

On our investigation, we discovered a file no: 34/98GT/UB/OT22/14,
with your name as the beneficiary but has a different account
particulars and names on it, It was further discovered that some
mysterious officials of the banks/Top Government functionaries has
fraudulently diverted your funds until we intervene and recover this
money, my office has fully recovered this money and we want you to
receive it without any waste of time while we further continue our
investigation to get those fraudulent officials who were involved in
diverting innocent beneficiary's funds arrested. However because of
the problems associated with African Banks, we have decided that all
recovered funds will be paid to beneficiaries through Bank to Bank
Transfer, or Cash Delivery Payment System.

Finally, we have surreptitiously concluded an arrangement with Top
Banks/ Private Securities Firm under the UN/EU payment Center to pay
these Recovered Deposited Funds to you, this is sequel to empowerment
given to us by the United Nations as your representative counsel to
ensure that your payment is release to you in due course. Once we hear
from you confirming your Ready, Willing, Able (R. W. A) To receive
your funds, we shall require the following information’s from you to
enable us apply for the diffusion certification as an accredited
counselor to you, thank you.

1). A copy of your Identification photograph
2). Your Contact/Residing Address
3). Your Direct Mobile/Telephone Number
4). Your complete names.

Thanks,

Yours faithfully,
Solicitor. Williams F. Watson.

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