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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: "NatWest Bank" <michael.beker@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: bekerm5@jmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 11:59:09 -0700
Subject: REF- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF ((US$22Million)


REF- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF ((US$22Million)

This is the second time we are notifying you about this said fund.
After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the
Nigerian Government
in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of the Federal
Republic of
Nigeria. This bank has an instruction to see to the immediate release of the
sum of
(US$22Million) of your claim that has been holding since is transfered into
your bank
Account from their Domiciliary Account with this bank.

We were meant to understand from our findings that you have been going
through hard ways by
paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund (US$22Million),
which has been
the handwork of some miscreant elements from that Country.

We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from
Nigeria,or
anywhere concerning your funds, as you have met up with the whole
requirements.

We know your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere will advice you to still
go ahead with
them, which will be on your own risk.

Your (US$22Million) will reflect in your designated bank account within five
Bank working
days.

Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want
your fund.
Finally, you are advice to re-confirm these to us, your contact address
Telephone and Fax
Number for easy communication.PLEASE REPLY MY MAIL TO THIS EMAIL:<
bmichael95@yahoo.fr>

Yours sincerely,
Mr Micheal Beker
Asistance Secretary
NatWest Bank
London United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources: