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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Ossy Smith" <ossysmith@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 00:54:33 +0000
Subject: REPLY SOONEST

REF: FERES9ASWIFT/USD
FROM: THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEBT
SENATE CHAMBERS ABUJA-NIGERIA
THROUGH: THE OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL
NIGERIAN FOREIGN RESERVE ACCOUNT.

DEAR SIR,

I AM DIRECTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEBT AND THE BOARD OF
NATIONAL CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR OVERDUE CONTRACT
PAYMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT, YOUR PAYMENT IS SCHEDULE
TO BE PAID TO YOU DIRECTLY BY TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER THROUGH “LION BANK OF
NIGERIA PLC”, AFTER VERIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION OF CLAIMS BY THE JOINT
EFFORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ABOVE CURRENTLY IN UNITED KINGDOM. YOUR
PAYMENT REFERENCE CODE IS FERES9ASWIFT/USD; ALWAYS QUOTE WHEN MAKING CONTACT
FOR CLAIM OF YOUR FUND.

YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE “LION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC”, FOR YOUR FUND
CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (FCC) AND THE SUBSEQUENCE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND WHICH
WILL ENABLE YOU TO CONFIRM THE ARRIVAL OF THE FUND IN YOUR BANK, YOU ARE
REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE HEAD OF OPERATION INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DESK AND
DEMAND TO SPEAK WITH MR. HENRY MARTINS, ON HIS DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
234-92728418, FAX: 234-17593132, E-MAIL: lionbankplc@inbox.com, YOU SHOULD
HAVE THE NEED FOR
CLARIFICATIONS AND UPDATES FROM THE HIS DESK, DO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY,
EMAIL:
lionbankplc@inbox.com, IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY DELAY OR DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO
CONTACT THIS OFFICE WITH YOUR QUERIES FOR ASSISTANCE AND CLARIFICATIONS.
MEANWHILE, OUR RECORDS CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE BEEN EXTORTED AND YOUR FILE
TOSSED AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME BY THE PREVIOUS DEMOCRACY GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.

YOU MAY BE OR HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SEVERAL LETTERS AND PROMISES, PLEASE
DISREGARD THEM. YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN CLEARED WAITING FOR CLAIM. PLEASE ACT
FAST AS TIME IS OF GREAT ESSENCE FOR YOUR PAYMENT. LET ME ALSO USE THIS
MEDIUM TO CONVEY ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND GOOD PEOPLE OF NIGERIA OUR
SINCERE REGRET ON THE IMPEDIMENT YOU HAVE UNCOUNTED IN YOUR QUEST TO RECEIVE
THIS CONTRACT PAYMENT.

YOURS TRULY,

MR. OSSY SMITH

CC: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
CC: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND PAYMENT APPROVAL.


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