joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: financial secretary <finacialsecretaryatmdepartment@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:39:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: YOUR EMAIL REQUIRES URGENT AUTHENTICATION


FINANCIAL BANK PLC COTONOU BENIN
Head Office: BP 2012, rue Caporal Anani,
Branch; 87 avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris, Franc.
Tel: +22993159333 / Fax + 22993070806

Dear Customer!

You are welcome to atm dept chamber Benin.
Once again thank you dear Customer.
I read your email and all is the instruction giving by the General overseas.

Tomorrow our director General Vala Musa will crose-check all the file and sign for it ok.
So go right as i am talking to you and send the $45 dollar via western union with the below name.

Secretary Egwautu Gabriel
Address Benin Republic
01 BP 506 COTONOU BENIN.
Text question:Ocean
Anwser:Blue

Thank you and God bless you.
Send the following information such as Question and anwser including mtcn number.
And attach to your address which we will use to coded in your card upon the delivery.
Your card will be activate immediately we confirm the real/truth.



---------------------------------
Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

---------------------------------
Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.

Anti-fraud resources: