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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: "Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.ingabritt4@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2015 13:41:13 -0600
Subject: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE URGENT?

(INTERNATIONAL FUNDS TRANSFER / AUDIT UNIT)
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870UNITED NATIONS PLAZA20-ANEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
http://www.un.org Our Ref:
 
FROM UN MRS.INGA-BRITT AHLENIUS
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family. You may
not understand the reason why this mail came to you. We have been in a
board meeting for the passed (7) months which ended 2 days ago.
 
This email is sent to all the people that have in every
part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS agreed upon to compensate you
with the sum of US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars Only).
This includes every foreign
contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people
that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses
that failed due to Government problems E.T.C. We found your name and
information in our list so know that is reason
why we are contacting you to let you know that the funds will be
releasing to you, this have been agreed upon and have been
signed.
 
You are advised to reconfirm your personal information once again to
enable me forward it to the PAYING BANK for the immediate release of
your funds to you. Therefore, don't forget to send your full Name and
telephone number/your bank details and correct mailing address and also your
international passport.
 
Now the only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your
Telex Confirmation Code fee to the UN.
 
so quickly forward the listed information so that the paying bank will
start with the release of your funds.
 
call me for more verification +234 708 376 9018
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
 
Making the world a better place.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius
PHONE +234 708 376 9018
United Nations Under-Secretary
General For Internal Overseas

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