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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: "JEFFREY DEAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ujddean@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:53:06 +0100
Subject: FUND RELEASE INSTRUCTION FROM UNITED NATION

FROM THE DESK OF MR. JEFFREY DEAN
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC
8, CANADA SQUARE,
LONDON, UK
Our Ref: FCMB-0XX9/789/09
 
Attention: Our Honorable Beneficiary,
 
 
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT US$2.3 MILLION
 
It is my modest obligation to write you this letter in regards to the authorization of your owed payment through our most respected financial institution (FCMB BANK PLC). I am Mr. Jeffrey Dean, the Director, Foreign Operations Department, FCMB Bank Plc, UK. The British Government, in conjunction with the US GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK, UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION on foreign payment matters, has empowered my bank after much consultation and consideration, to handle all foreign payments and release them to their appropriate beneficiaries with the help of a representative from Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As the newly appointed/accredited International Paying Bank, we have been instructed by the World Governing Bodies, together with the Committee on International Debt and the Board of Foreign Winnings, Inheritance and Contract Review Panel, to release your overdue funds with immediate effect; with this exclusive Vide Transaction No.: WHA/EUR/202 and Transfer Allocation No.: FCMB/X44/701LN/WGB/GB, P
 
Be informed that we have verified your payment file as directed to us, and your name is next on the list of our outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment before the end of this Last term of the year 2009. Be advised that because of too many funds beneficiaries due for payment at this last quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$2,300,000.00) only, as part payment so as to enable us pay other beneficiaries. To facilitate the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information below:
 
1) YOUR FULL NAME;
2) YOUR FULL ADDRESS:
3) YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER;
4) YOUR AGE AND PROFESSION;
5) COPY OF ANY VALID FORM OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION;
6) YOUR BANK NAME;
7) YOUR BANK ADDRESS;
8) ACCOUNT NAME AND NUMBER;
9) ABA/ROUTING NUMBER;
10) SWIFT OR SORT CODE/IBAN
 
 
Upon our receipt of the above mentioned information, your payment will be processed and released to you without delays. Be also informed that you are required to discontinue further communication with any other person(s) or office so as to avoid distortion of data; you are required to provide the above information for your transfer to take place through Bank to Bank Remittance directly from FCMB Bank. Your prompt response to the above directive is highly imperative
 
Yours truly,
Mr. Jeffrey Dean
The Director, Foreign Operations Department
FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK

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