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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: "Dr.Michael George" <goddyosuama2001@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: drmichael.george777@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 19:58:45 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,


Attn: Beneficiary,

We have decided to bring to your attention, the fact that we have done everything necessary to make sure payments from the debt remittance account are made to the Bonafide Beneficiaries. I am informing you of an attempt by some men to collect your payment on your behalf. I had to ask them why they came to see me in person and they said that they came to collect your inheritance/contract funds payment sum of $5M which rightfully belongs to you as shown in your file with us, on your behalf and by your authorization.

However, I am writing you this email to find out from you if you actually sent them. Note that they actually tendered some vital documents which proved that you actually sent them to collect these funds. Below is the list of documents which they presented.

1) Letter of administration
2) Order to release
3) High court injunction

Due to the nature of my job, I cannot afford to make any mistake in releasing the funds to anyone except you who is the recognized as true beneficiary to these funds. I want to hear from you before I order the release of the funds to these men who claim to be your representatives because they will be back to my office next week. I decided to carry out this decision based on my work experience and this is a risk I cannot take because I have not heard anything from you.

Kindly direct your response to the private email address of the Executive Governor, below for quicker deliberation and response from him on the release of your funds to you.

Please remember to indicate your personal phone number he can reach you on in your response Note that for security reasons you have been assigned a code/password which is {TT7270CBN}, please note that this code is the reference number for your transfer and it's being disclosed to you alone, guard this jealously and all your email response should carry this code as the subject.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Michael George.
Secretary to the Governor.



Anti-fraud resources: