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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: "MR KOLA DEVIS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <errikdg@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:40:56 -1200
Subject: INFORMATION

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE
MR.KOLA DEVIS (OFR),DIRECTOR,MINISTRY OF FINANCE
FMF ANNEX COMPLEX BUILDING
GARKI, ABUJA
NIGERIA
YOUR OVER DUE FUND
Our Ref: CBN/FMF/CBX/021/07/009.
Attention 
This is to inform that the suspension placed on foriegn payments has been lifted
 
last week by the federal executive council and your fund (25.5 million USD)was also
 
gazatted for payment but, a man came to my office yesterday with a sworn affidavit
 
from a lagos High Court, claiming to be your true representative. Here are his
 
information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or
 
not,so that the federal government will not be held responsible for paying into the
 
wrong account.
NAME: MR. JOHNSON WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: 111 wall street new york,.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
 
Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from
 
you. you are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes
 
so that your fund will be remitted into your nominated bank account. this fund is
 
as a result of inheritance on your behalf. information needed from you for
 
verification is as follow:
 
(1) Your full name and address:
(2) Your age and marital status:
(3) Your occupation:
(4) Your telephone/fax number:
(5) Your nationality:
 
As soon as we receive this, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other
 
to remit this money into your account. The Central Bank Governor,Executive Board of
 
Directors and the Senate committee for foreign over due inheritance fund have
 
approved and accredited this reputable ministry, with the office of the minister of
 
finance on international remittance/foreign operations,to handle and supervise the
 
transfer of all foreign inheritance funds for this second quarter payment of the
 
year 2009.
 
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr.White, if we
 
do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry
 
for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.
 
 
Best Regards.
Mr.Kola Devis. 
 
 
 
 

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