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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: "Mr. John Walker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.johnwalker21@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2017 04:25:52 -0500
Subject: SCAMMED VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FUND $2,500,000.00USD

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family? You may not understand why this mail came to you. I wish to inform you that ECOWAS have been having a meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and UNITED NATION for the past 1 month now which ended yesterday in regards to innocent individual who have been a victim of scam that was going on in Africa and European Countries, this Organizations have agreed to compensate them with the sum of $2,500,000.00USD each.
 
This includes every foreign contractor that may have not received their Contract sum, and some people that have an unfinished Transaction/International Businesses that failed due to one problem or the other.
 
Going through our data base your email contacts and name was found on the list and that is why we are contacting you for you to receive your own compensation and this said money will be paid via ATM VISA CARD Payment Method which is the easiest and safer way of receiving without any hindrance and it will be issued to you from our Authorized Bank in Benin Republic(Africa) You are advised to contact John Walker who is your claim Officer with the below information for preparation of paper works and onward shipment of your ATM VISA CARD.
 
NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
AMOUNT SCAMMED:
DIRECT PHONE:
OCCUPATION:
COMPANY:
COUNTRY:
 
Claims Agent
John Walker
 
As He is our Legal Representative in Western Africa and your claim agent, contact him immediately for your own ATM VISA CARD, you should send him your full details for reconfirmation that you are the rightful Beneficiary and to enable him know where you want his office to send the Atm Card.
 
Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive your ATM CARD.
 
Best regards,
President Faure Gnassingbé
Economic Community of West African States/Chairperson

Anti-fraud resources: