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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: "salam_alif Gazeta.pl" <salam_alif@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 13:23:16 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUND IS PLACED ON A USA TRANSIT ACCOUNT.


FROM THE PAYMENT CLAIM OFFICE.
MR. DANIEL WASHINGTON.
HEAD, INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER UNIT,
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK USA.
TELEPHONE: +1-800-822-1636 EXT. 2
Email: internationaltransferunit@aol.in
RE: OFFICIAL 2008 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ON ALL UNPAID
CONTRACT / INHERITANCE ENTITLEMENT TO ALL
APPROVED/CLEARED FUNDS BENEFICIARIES.

DEAR SIR,

I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS MORNING WE RECEIVED THE
AUTHORITY TO REMIT YOUR FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT PENDING
APPROVAL/CLEARANCE FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF WEST
AFRICAN STATES(BCEAO)BECAUSE OF HUGE FRAUD COMING OUT
OF AFRICA.

HOWEVER, KINDLY CONTACT THE BELOW PERSON WHO IS IN
POSITION TO APPROVAL AND GIVE CLEARANCE TO ENABLE US
EFFECT TRANSFER IMMIDIATELY INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK
ACCOUNT.

Rev. Johnson Isong Johnson
Central Bank of West African States
Bceao Chairman on Foreign Transfer Dpt.
Adresse : Aven ue Jean Paul I Cotonou
Boite postale : BP 325 Cotonou
Téléphone : +(229) 31 24 66/67
Télécopie : +(229) 31 24 65
Mobile: +(229) 934-77770.
Website : www.bceao.int
EMAIL: johnsonijohnson@ameinfo.com

WE ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE WIRE AND TELEX
DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES
(BCEAO) HAS RELEASED YOUR FUND TO US AWAITING
CLEARANCE FROM THEM, CONTACT REV. JOHNSON ISONG
JOHNSON FOR CLEARANCE AND RETURN BACK TO US FOR WIRE
CONFIRMATION SLIP WILL BE SENT TO YOU FOR CONFIRMATION
OF PAYMENT WITH YOUR BANK.

ACT FAST, I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU, RECONFIRM
YOUR BANKING AND PERSONAL INFORMATIONS TO THE CENTRAL
BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) WITH CODE FRB/US-229.
TAKE NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE WIRED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY I RECEIVE TELEX CONFIRMATION FROM
THE CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO).
YOUR IMMEDIAT E ACTION TOWARDS THIS MESSAGE WILL EFFECT
THE CREDITING OF YOUR ACCOUNT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR CO-OPERATION AND WE GUARANTEE YOU
THE BEST OF OUR SERVICE.
ONCE AGAIN WE CONGRATULATE YOU.
YOURS IN SERVICE,
FROM THE PAYMENT CLAIM OFFICE.
MR. DANIEL WASHINGTON.
HEAD, INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER UNIT,
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK USA.
TELEPHONE: +1-800-822-1636 EXT. 2
Email: internationaltransferunit@aol

Anti-fraud resources: