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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: Paul Gourley <paulgourley2007@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 04:08:03 -0800
Subject: FROM MR PAUL GOURLEY,GOOD MORNING.

Attm:Beneficiary,

The Eco was Auditors attached with the Federal Government have
received your payment file of USD15.5M dollars, After the examination
of your payment file, I found out that your payment has been over due
for immediate transfer of your fund into your nominated bank account.
I was wondering why you have not received your payment up till this
moment transferred into your nominated bank account, Is it because
you are pursuing your payment through the
back door? or you are believing in your so called representatives
without following the government due process or given bribe. This is
a very serious issue. I have received a very serious report submitted
to my office from the European Union and Paris London Club and IMF
together with the African Union informing my office that most of the
Foreign beneficiaries that their payment has been diverted to a
different account without the Foreign beneficiary receiving their
payment. After all this coupled with my meeting, that you are required
to receive your payment transferred into your account
without sending any western union or representative from one of our
paying bank in South Africa.

You will be required to receive your payment from the South African
paying bank. You must make an alternative arrangement as soon as you
receive this mail to fly down to South Africa and proceed to the
paying bank which will not take you more than 24hours ones you are
right inside the paying bank in South Africa.
You will be required to open an account right inside the paying bank
in South Africa. Once you open an account right inside the paying
bank you will be there to confirm your payment transferred into your
nominated new bank account open by you right inside the South African
paying bank before flying back to your country. Once i receive your
confirmation of flying down to South Africa i will confirm to you the
name of the South African paying bank for you to contact the bank.You
confirm to me your
occupation, your address, a copy of your working ID CARD or
International Passport, your direct mobile cell phone number for
smooth communication.

My Regards,

MR PAUL GOURLEY

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