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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: "David Ferdinand" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dferdinand7@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:30:16 -0700
Subject: YOUR PENDING PAYMENT

THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
In Conjunction with the International Monetary Fund
WORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.


Dear Beneficiary,

The United Nations' Fact Finding & Special Duties Office, hereby receives your payment with reference number #.UNO/WBO/LM-09-504 amounting to US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United States Dollars) with accrued interest. This office was set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide, responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contract, inheritance and lotto winning claims by companies and individuals and directs the paying authorities worldwide to make immediate payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without further delay, your said payment is being arranged in a Security-proof box weighing 75kg padded with synthetic nylon (US$100 Bills). According to information gathered from the bank’s security computer we were notified that you have waited long enough to receive this payment without success, we also confirmed that you have met all statutory requirements in respect of your pending payment.

This is to congratulate you and officially inform you that your over due payment has been approved for immediate payment by direct cash delivery in your country.

This new method of payment was personal approved because of the fraudulent practices going on in our Apex Bank and most of our Global Payment Centers which have failed to carry out their duties effectively. All you need to do now is to forward immediately the following information:

1) Your Full name and delivery address

2) Direct phone number (Cell phone preferably) and fax number (If any)

3) Age, Sex and Occupation (For application process of the Non residential Tax papers)

Before the departure of your trunk box, we shall process your non-residential tax certificate which will prove that you are the rightful beneficiary of the fund; it will also clear you from tax payment on your contract fund upon the arrival of the cargo.

Note, our commercial Attache / Diplomat will contact you upon the arrival of your consignment before the delivery to your contact address where you will sign the recipient invoice and produce your identification before they hand over your cargo to you.

We wait your response accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

David Ferdinand
Director, Cash Payment Dept.


Anti-fraud resources: