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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: "International Monetary Fund" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <monetary_center@administrativos.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:07:06 +0200
Subject: Good news to you beneficiary

Good news to you beneficiary,
 
This is to notify you with the present decision of the concern members responsible for the payment of your unpaid fund (US$1,500,000.00) to you. The debt and reconciliation panel which includes the dignitaries representing the following bodies: the International Monetary Fund, World Bank 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. Barbara Kay Anderson
Bank Name: HSBC Bank
Bank Address: Indiana, USA.
Account Number: 4027183305
 
You are required to confirm to this office as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you. Duly respond with your below information for clarification with the information Mrs. Barbara Kay Anderson supplied to my office.
 
(i). Your full names:
(ii). Contact address:
(iii. Valid Phone:
(iv). Age:
(v). Occupation:
 
You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing.
 
The only money you we have to paid for the paper works is( $298 dollars), take note of that because as soon as this information the approval will drop.
 
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 while it was assigned and approved by the resolution panel for you to stop every communication with any body and follow the instruction of my office to receive your fund without mistake.
 
The paying bank in London has been mandated to carry out your payment through online transfer to Mrs. Barbara Kay Anderson'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. Olu John
Public Relation Officer,
Lagos, Nigeria

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