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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: "CHUKWU MEZIE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chukwumezie@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:53:18 -0600
Subject: Dear Beneficiary -Urgent Transfer of Funds OK

 
From The Desk Of
Mr. Mezie Chukwu
Computer Sci. Dept
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Lagos - Nigeria
Email:meziechukwu@rocketmail.com
 
 
 
Attn:Fund Beneficiary
 
Hurry now and claim your fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria or your  fund will be confiscated by the wicked officials of the CBN. My name is Mezie Chukwu. I am a Computer Scientist working with Central  Bank of Nigeria CBN.
 
 
My unit is in charge of wire transfer through Key Tested Telex ( K.T.T) and wire transfer bank to bank (swift system).
Several times in my computer there are contract / Inheritance payment valued at US$15.5 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred United states Dollars Only) with the interest which has been appearing as pending but for the fact that I would not like to sabotage the trust given to me to be in this position was the reason I kept calm all these while.
 
After a serious taught on the case, i realized that the fund will be diverted to the Government Treasury Account and that was why i decided to use this opportunity due to the Change of Government right now as all beneficiaries fund was mandated to be transferred earlier by the UK Bank but not so any more.
 
Based on this is why I decided to contact you not minding the risk of sending this message across to you, because since i am in a desperate situation right now to make use of this opportunity and remember that this is 100% risk-free and legitimate.
 
 
Note that the only instrument I need right now is a new release hard diskette which i will advise you to get from the states and send it over to me by mail so that i will use it immediately to store all your information and do the necessary for transfer to be expedited.
So send below:-
Office / residential address
Full name
Banking Particulars preferably open a new fresh account for this transaction.
Your Identity Card
 
I awaits for your information.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Mr. Mezie Chukwu
Email:meziechukwu@rocketmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: