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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: "MR EDWARD BROWN (MCOM)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardbrown5.5@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 May 2015 12:41:54 +0100
Subject: RECIEVE YOUR OVERDUE FUND NOW

MCOM FINANCE SECURITY COMPANY
  225 YORK STREET, LONDON, W1U6PZ .UK,
  TEL+44 70 2408 9760
     +44 70 2404 6577
 
  Sir,
 
                    RE: TRANSFER OF USD17,500,000.00
 
  On behalf of Mcom Finance Security Co. London, in association with the Royal Bank of Canada I want to inform you that your delayed overdue fund of US$17.5M (Seventeen Million Five Hundred thousand Dollars ) is now ready to be transferred to you as an investment fund by the RBC. The  fund has been legally approved to your name by the Canadian Ministry Of Finance and Central Bank Of Canada for onward transfer to your personal bank account
 
  The Royal Bank of Canada representative would visit you and your bank first with all the Original investment fund release documents. You are required to furnish us with your information such as full names , mailing address , Telephone , age and occupation.
 
  On the receipt of the information , a comprehensive details shall be sent to you concerning the banks' representative to your country to hold a meeting with you and your Bank Manager.
 
  Yours in Service,
 
  Edward Brown

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