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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: "YorkShire Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pauladdison12@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:07:21 -0800
Subject: International Credit Settlement,

International Credit Settlement,
Yorkshire Bank,
30 St Vincent Place,
G1 2HL London,
United Kingdom,
 
 
                               Ref: Immediate Payment Approval Notification
 
Attention Beneficiary
 
I am Mr. Paul Addison, Head of Foreign Payment Department, Yorshire Bank,London,UK.I have been mandated to inform you about the recent development as in payment of your overdue fund after our board meeting, your case was mentioned and we have agreed to pay you without any further delay.
 
The UK government has mandated this Payment Commission that all payment that has been overdue and those owed by the government would be paid and yours amounted to the tune of ?2.5m (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Only). Therefore all we will pay you now is the ?2.5m usd (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Only).Directly from London Here or any of our Correspondence Payment Offices in any part of the world.
 
I would like you to employ transparency and honesty in this regards because aiding and abetting will only keep your payment pending. So I will like you to confirm the following to avoid any mistake or wrong payment. The requested information is to ensure that there is error-free in the payment and it should be forwarded in the manner stated below:
 
Please note that information with asterisks are very important
 
*Your Full Name:
*Your Complete Address:
*Your Phone Numbers:
*Your Age:
*Your Current Occupation:
 
NOTE: PLEASE TREAT WITH UTMOST URGENCY,
 
Thank You.
Mr.Paul Addison.
Head of Foreign Payment
Department Yorkshire Bank,
London, UK.
 

Anti-fraud resources: