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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "BEN S. BERNANKE"<lganther@theteamsgroup.com>
Reply-To: <ben.bernanke@administrativos.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:53:29 +0100
Subject: GET PAID NOW!

ATT:
Dear Sir/Madam
This note is to notify you that we received an instructional
letter today, from the United Nations in conjuction with the
FBI to credit Five Million Dollars to your account,
been payment for your over due contract/inheritance fund,
which has been with them for every long time now.

Your are required to get back to us with the following
information below,
1. Full name:...................................................
2. Your Current address:..................................
3. Phone..........Mobile:...........& fax:.................
4. Your Age:.......Your Sex:...........& Your current occupation.,
5. And your identification either inter/ passport or driver license.

Regards,
Ben S. Bernanke
CHAIRMAN FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
NEWYORK

Anti-fraud resources: