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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: "The Intercontinental Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.rexmartin@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:45:20 -0700
Subject: Payment notification.

 
 
Attn,
 
We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay you your over due e funds which you did not complete the process of the released of your transfer through the Digitalized Payment System.
 
I have tried several times to reach you on phone but there no response that is why I decided to email you to know the present situation of your fund.
 
We just received the payment approval from the Central bank today be informed that your (ATM Master Express Credit Card) is ready and the  arrangement was approved by the central bank.
 
The central bank introduces this payment arrangement as to enable our beneficiary to receive their funds without any interference, Please note that there can be no corrections after the ATM Card has been processed
 
and printed, therefore we would like you to supply the following information: to enable us proceed.
 
 
 
•          Complete Name:
 
•          Delivery Address (PO Box) not accepted by delivery company:
 
•          Phone Number(s) – {Mobile}
 
•          Gender:
 
•          Date of Birth:
 
•          Marital Status:
 
•          Occupation:
 
Yours truly,
Mr. Lawal Bami
(Director Foreign Operation Department).

Anti-fraud resources: