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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: "Debt Reconciliation Panel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <debtandreconc@inMail.sk>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 19:05:28 +0100
Subject: Reconfirm for your immediate fund payment

Good news to you un-paid beneficiary,
 
This is to notify you with the present decision of the concern members responsible for the payment of your unpaid fund to you. The debt and reconciliation panel which includes the dignitaries representing the following bodies: the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria and African Development Bank representatives from all the African countries held a meeting. In plight to the meeting, it was duly resolved for my office to handle the immediate release of all the unpaid payment, allocation/compensation list of contractors, inheritance, next of kin and beneficiaries that originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle east and Americans throughout 2009 without further delay.
 
In regards to this outstanding resolution, a woman came to my office a day after the meeting with a notary, claiming to be your true representative. Below is her information for you to confirm to this office if this woman is truly from you or not so that my office will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong bank account.
 
Name: Mrs. Helen George
Bank Name: New York Mellon Bank
Bank Address: NY, USA.
Account Number: 5325220569
 
You are required to confirm to this office as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you.
 
We wish to inform you based on a lot of junks mail flying over the internet and some people are using advantage to collect your information from you to gain access and divert your fund. This is why it was assigned and approved by the debt and reconciliation panel for you to stop every communication with any body or office and follow the instruction of my office to receive your fund without mistake. The paying bank in United States of America has been mandated to carry out your payment to Mrs. Helen George's bank account which she supplied to my office after your confirmation.
 
So get back to me for the immediate payment of your fund to her bank account without any mistake.
 
Regards,
 
Mr. Desmond Jonathan
Principal Payment Officer
Lagos, Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources: