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: "Mr. Charles Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_charlesbensonoffice209@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:17:41 +0100
Subject: Re-Your over due inheritance fund GBP4, 600,000.00.

From Mr. Charles Benson
Remmitance Director
Citi Trust Bank, UK
Private E-mail: remmitancedirector@hotmail.co.uk
Re-Your over due inheritance fund GBP4, 600,000.00.
This is to notify you that your over due inheritance / contract funds value GBP4,600,000.00 has been gazette to be released, Online Bank Transfer by the International Monetary Fund / World Bank London branch. Meanwhile, a woman came to our office few days ago with a letter from British high court, claiming to be your true representative. Here are her information's for you to reconfirm to this office if this woman is truly from you or not so that we will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account name:
Name: Lisa Huston,
Bank Name: bank of America,
Bank Address: USA,
Account number: 6503809428.
If Ms. Lisa Huston is not from you we will like you to reconfirm your information's for verifications purposes so that your fund valid GBP4,600,000.00 will be remitted into your nominated bank account information:
Your Name:
Your Full Address:
Your Telephone: Fax:
Age:
Sex:
Your Occupation:,
 
Copy of Your Working ID Card or International Passport For Identification.
As soon as we receive your confirmation, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to pay you this fund (£4,600,000.00). The International Monetary Fund / World Bank London have approved and accredited this reputable Firm (CITI TRUST BANK UK) with the office of the director, international remittance/foreign operations, to handle and transfer all foreign inheritance/contract funds this quarter payment of the year 2008.
 
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. Lisa Huston, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.
Best regards,
MR. Charles Benson,
REMMITANCE DIRECTOR
CITI TRUST BANK UK
 

Anti-fraud resources: