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: megmills@merseymail.com
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:36:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FROM MRS McMILLIAN

------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.tagz.info - Find great PHOTOS - you'll be amazed!
------------------------------------------------------------





Ref: UK/7803XI/04

Batch: 03/BT25/0306



Dear Winner,





As part of our procedure in assisting our winners to get their prizes claimed we demand regular updates on how far they have gone so that we can reduce the possibilities of losing their winnings in transit.



This is probably because most of these winners do not speak English or they do not really understand the claims process in detail which could further complicate matters for us here. This is very important.

You had been verified for prize transfer by my office and you where instructed to contact the bank via the following details below;

BUTTERFIELD PRIVATE BANK

TEL: +44 702 402 3376,+44 702 402 0893

FAX: +44 870 974 8431

EMAIL: customercare_bfpbank@yahoo.co.uk,

CONTACT: MR PETER HOWARD



I also informed you that you had to send them these details for them to commence your transfer;

1, Reference Number

2, Batch Number

3, Full Names*

4, Bank details. {IMPORTANT}

5, A medium of identification, i.e. either a copy of

Driver’s license or international passport or any other

Legal means of identification. {IMPORTANT}

6, Amount Won.

7, Contact Phone Numbers



I will like to inform you that if you hadn't received my previous email (which also contained your winning certificate) please notify me as soon as you get this email and contact the bank via the Bank Transfer liaison Officer (Mr. P. Howard) via email and telephone to avoid prize loss in transit.

Furthermore, you are also to inform us if you have contacted the bank prior to this email and let us know if they have acknowledged receipt of your email as there is the possibility that your previous application was lost!





This is an urgent email from my office and I will like you to acknowledge receipt of this email.



Yours Faithfully

McMillian, M. (Mrs)

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs.Meg McMillian

Megmilly12@hotmail.com

mrsmmcmillian@merseymail.com



You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize





Anti-fraud resources: