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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: "George Clarkson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <worldbankgroup@cabanova.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2010 02:30:10 -0700
Subject: Notice Of Payment 2010

>From Desk of the Accountant-General
World Bank Group, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel:+ 44 702 402 8345

I am Mr. George Clarkson, Bill and Exchange Manager/ Accountant General, Head of the World Bank Finance Group, London Branch, set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide. This Group is responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contracts, inheritance and lotto winning claims by companies and individuals and direct the paying authorities (banks) worldwide to make immediate payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without further delay.

You are being legally contacted regarding the release of your long awaited fund. After a detailed review of your file of claims, the World Bank Group has mandated that your fund should be released immediately. The sum of US$10,625,000.00 (Ten Million Six Hundred and twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars) has been approved in your favor via my desk. I therefore wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.

Additionally, be informed that the United States Department of Treasury, the United Kingdon Home Office and the British Banker's Association has been working with us in ensuring that your entitled funds is released without any breach of Internertional Laws.

Please re-confirm to us the following:

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(3) Company Name, Home Address:
(4) Profession, Age and Marital status:

Note that the above fund has been cleared from terrorist or fraud related activities.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.

Mr. George Clarkson,
(Accountant)
World Bank Group


This email and any materials attached are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and any contain information thatis privileged, confidential. If this reader of this email is not intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution orcopying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by return email and delete it from your
system, or you can inform by sent mail to us.This transmission may be confidential or protected from disclosure and is only for review and use by the intended recipient. Access by anyone else is unauthorized. Any unauthorized reader is hereby notified that any review, use, dissemination, disclosure or copying of this information,or any act or omission taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately

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