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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: "WILFRED CROSS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revenuecustoms@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2015 11:24:43 -0000
Subject: GOOD NEWS FOR YOU,

HM Revenue & Customs
Corp Tax Office North London
Postal address: 1 HRMC Building.
London, England.
 
Dear Sir/ Madam,
 
 
DURING OUR EXECUTIVE MEETING THIS MORNING REGARDING THE ISSUE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED WITH THIS OFFICE IN THE TOTAL SUM
 
OF (500,000 000 GBPOUNDS) IN YOUR FAVOUR, IT WAS DISCUSSED AND AGREED BY THE  BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THIS CHANCERY
 
OFFICE TO EFFECT THIS FUND TRANSFER WHICH HAS BEEN DELAYING FOR PAST MONTHS AND YEARS.
 
 
 
THE BOARD OF UNITED KINGDOM TRUSTEE HAVE DECIDED TO EFFECT THE RELEASE OF THE WHOLE TOTAL SUM VIA DIPLOMATIC
 
SYSTEMS OF CASH DELIVERING DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY AND TO AVOID THE EAGLE EYED AUTHORITIES OF UNITED KINGDOM /
 
BRITISH GOVERNMENT. DUE TO HIGH RATE OF TERRORISM AND MONEY LAUNDRY ACTIVITIES GOING ON ALL OVER THE WHOLE WORLD,
 
THIS OFFICE WISH TO PERSONALLY DELIVER AND HAND OVER THIS FUND OF FIVE MILLION GREAT BRITAIN POUNDS ONLY TO YOU.
 
THIS BOARD AGREED THAT THE WHOLE SUM WILL BE SEALED IN A DIPLOMATIC CONSIGNMENT BOX AND DELIVERED TO YOU VIA OUR
 
DIPLOMATIC DELIVERING AGENCY TO YOUR COUNTRY WHILE THE REPRESENTATIVES WILL ALSO JOIN THE DIPLOMATIC DELIVERING
 
AGENT THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY TO WITNESS THE HANDING OVER OF THE SEALED CONSIGNMENT BOX WITH THE TOTAL DEPOSIT
 
(500,000, 000 GBP).
 
 
YOU ARE TO SIGN THE RELEASE ORDER DOCUMENTATION WHEN ONCE THE SEALED CONSIGNMENT BOX ARRIVE YOUR COUNTRY TO
 
CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON WHOM THE SEALED CONSIGNMENT BOX BELONGS TO. BEAR IT IN MIND THAT YOU HAVE TO
 
PAY THE COST OF DIPLOMATIC DELIVERING AGENT SERVICE FEES / CUSTOM NON INSPECTION FEES TO DIPLOMATIC DELIVERING
 
AGENT BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THE SEALED CONSIGNMENT BOX BY THE CUSTOMS AT THE POINT OF ARRIVAL/MEETING. YOU ARE
 
ADVISED TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THIS HRMC FOR INFORMATION TO ENABLE YOU TO KNOW WHEN THE SEALED CONSIGNMENT BOX
 
WILL DEPART AND ARRIVAL.
 
BEST REGARDS
 
WILFRED CROSS
(HEAD OF OPERATIONS)

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