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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: "Pol Maj-Gen Apichat Suriboonya" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <icpo.stopcrimebkth@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:47:29 -0700
Subject: FROM ICPO

International Criminal Police Organization - ICPO
Interpol (General Secretariat)
Building 19, 12th Floor,
Rama I Road, Pathum Wan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
 
Your Kind Attention
 
This Official Memorandum is to inform you that we discovered that some corrupt officials who work under government agencies, and other financial agencies have attempted to divert your Funds (US$10,500,000.00) through a back-door channel. We actually discovered this today, through our Secret Agents under the Disciplinary Unit of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO).
 
From the information gathered, We discovered that the said Funds actually belongs to you, but it had been purposely delayed because the officials in charge of your Payment are into some sort of irregularities which is totally against the ethics of any Payment institution. Presently, we are aware that several payment was paid on this regard, but this corrupt officials still requesting additional payment to enable them delay your payment and divert your fund for their selfish purpose.
 
The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) has intervene on your behalf and your funds have been recovered. Upon your response, we shall instruct you on how to receive your fund without any delay. You are required to provide us with the below information's (for official verification).
 
1. Full Name:................
2. Residential Address:..............
3. Age:..............
4. Marital Status:............
5. Direct Telephone:.............
6. Occupation:.............
 
We await your immediate compliance to this official obligation, so that you can be paid by our approved bank.
 
Officially Sealed.
 
Pol Maj-Gen Apichat Suriboonya,
Head of the INTERPOL,
Asia-South-Pacific
 

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