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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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Fraud email example:

From: "NatWest Bank" <natwestdeliveryunit@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 08:58:28 +0000
Subject: Attn: Carol Ann Hartman

NatWest logo 
National Westminster Bank Plc
PO Box 90
1 Market Street BD1 1EG
England

Direct Tel: +447023053970
Fax       : +447092860562
 
Our Ref:NWB/ACC/01
Your Ref:NWB/UK/A4-X6/00

NATWEST Bank is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority and as a result, you will have to follow the Banking policies of the British Government by making the payment for COURIER before your prize cheque is remitted to you. Since your funds are insured to its real value, it cannot be touched nor deducted from. Hence, we CANNOT under any condition go against the policies of the Government by making an exception.
 
Note: that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it has been remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your prize is transferred to you.
This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the National Gambling Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly.This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
 
Please be advised that your funds will be returned to source if there are left unclaimed after 5days. We are an institution with a very long history of good repute and integrity. Hence we do not take lightly to false allegations. We will be forwarding a formal application in 5days to the UK Lottery Company to have your funds returned to source. Contact the undersigned below to be privy to the above information.
 
TREAT WITH DISPATCH
YOUR FAITHFULLY
Gordon Pell
Chief Financial Officer                               

**National Westminster Bank Plc, Registered in England No 929027. Registered Office: 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3UR.Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

24-hour telephone service 0845 609 0000(For Emergencies) International +44 (0) 127 439 4611(For Emergencies)
--

Anti-fraud resources: