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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: Scott James <jamesscott2288@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:23:48 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: RE-CHANGE OF ACCOUNT



 
This is in regard to outstanding payment, I am Mr. James Scott,the Newly appointed
Director United Nation Legal Affairs, Security and Investigation, the President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Chief YAR`ADUA) and his Decision Making Body, the
Executive Arms of the Government, has directed me to come down to Nigeria to
Investigate your Fund and to make sure that we approve all outstanding debts owned
to Foreign beneficiaries by the government of Nigeria in this 1st quarter of this
Fiscal year 2010.
This decision was taken based on the abnormities and inability of the BANKS in
Nigeria to Release your fund into your bank account whereby it was discovered that
some Directors in Central bank of NIGERIA being the Federal Government of Nigeria
were diverting foreign beneficiaries payment to another account of their choice
overseas. In view of this, during our investigation I found out that an account was
submitted to divert your fund to a Germany account. Below is the account submitted
and I want you to confirm if you are aware of the new development because we are
about effecting payment to the account stated bellow today.
 
Beneficiary: CERSTIN WENGER SHENOUDA
Bank: FRANKFURTER BANK
A/C No.: 367840545
Code: 50050201
 
Finally, be informed that a payment instruction has been issued and Forwarded to
the Treasury Department of the Federal Government of Nigeria In favor of you and
your company for immediate release of your fund to the account above without any
further prejudice. But there is no way We can approve the fund to your account
without you confirming if you Have changed your account for your fund to be
transfer to the Beneficiary: CERSTIN WENGER SHENOUDA BANK ACCOUNT IN GERMANY.
 
Contact me immediately for further clarification to know if you have Giving
instruction to transfer your fund to the above account today. On behalf Of the
entire management of United Nations, we are congratulating you in advance and if
you fail to contact this office on or before 24hrs from now then we will now wire
the fund to the German account.
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
Waiting for your urgent response
Yours faithfully
Mr.James Scott
Un Office of Legal Affairs Security and Investigation.



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