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: FIRST DIRECT BANK <firstdirectbnk09@msn.com>
Reply-To: <robert_williamso3@walla.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 06:17:07 +0000
Subject: REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
(US$22Million)


First Direct Bank, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ London, United Kingdom.Hot-Line: +447045752530
REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$22Million) This is to notifying you about this said fund. After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the Nigeria 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 transferred 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 passing a lot of difficult 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 anywhere concerning your funds, you don't have to pass through any difficult to receive your fund, as you have meet 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 three 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 full name, your contact Address, Occupation, Age, Telephone for easy communication. Yours sincerely, Mr. Robert Williams, Assistance Secretary, First Direct Bank, United Kingdom. Hot-Line: +447045752530

Anti-fraud resources: