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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: "MRS.J.W" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <audit_u@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:53:03 +0100
Subject: Re: YOUR FUND TRANSFER UPDATE(REPLY IMMEDIATELY)

UNITED NATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA 20-A NEW YORK NY 10017
WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT U NIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027
ATTN: Beneficiary,

IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT

The United Nations have been authorized by the World Bank and the
International Community to transfer your funds with immediate effect.
You are therefore required to urgently get back to us for an immediate
processing and releasing of your funds to you.
Hence you are adviced to send your contact informations such as

1. YOUR FULL NAMES:
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
3. HOME or OFFICE ADDRESS
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION CARD,
To the payment director as quickly as possible via Email Address :auditunit@yahoo.com.hk

Thanks,

MRS.Algie Polk
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

Anti-fraud resources: