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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: "KOFI ANNAN" <kofi.annan03@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 13:33:58 +0100
Subject: TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL PLEASE


*[image: KOFI A. ANNAN of Ghana , the seventh Secretary-General of the
United Nations] **Attn:Sir/Ma.

How are you today and hope all is well with you and family?You may not
understand why this mail came to you,but i will implore you to take your
time to carefully go through this mail.

We have been having a meeting for the pass 7 months which ended some days
ago at our office head quarters New York(UNITED NATIONS).

This email is to all the people that feel they have been scammed in any part
of the world,the UNITED NATION have agreed to compensate them with the sum
of US$ 100, 000.*
*** *
*This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or
international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.

We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you,this
have been agreed upon and has been signed.

You are advised to contact MR. JIM OVIA of ZENITH BANK OF NIGERIA,as he is
our representative in NIGERIA, contact him immediately for your Cheque of
USD$ 100,000. This funds are in a Cheque for security purpose ok? so he will
send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice.

Therefore, you should contact:MR. JIM OVIA, MD/CEO,ZENITH BANK OF NIGERIA on
this information below.*
*** *
** *TEL: +234-703-443-8183*
** *MAIL: **jimovia_zenithbanknigeria@yahoo.com*<http://uk.mc272.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jimovia_zenithbanknigeria@yahoo.com>
** *** *
** *Thanks and God bless you and your family.Hoping to hear from you as soon
as you cash your Cheque.

Making the world a better place

Regards,

Mr. Kofi Anann
Former Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).*

Anti-fraud resources: