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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: "Mr.Bernard Kouchner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financialreconciliationofficer@gala.net>
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 09:11:54 +0530
Subject: FROM:JOHN HANSON-INFORMATION-24TH MAY,2010.

Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!
 
To The Beneficiary,
This mail is to apologies to you for stopping and delaying your transaction. This will come as a very good news to you, which is that of your pending financial transaction/financial Consignment that was prevented entry into your country and your account which was intercepted or impounded by The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Authority,due to improper documentation of shipment and the transfer to you. Your financial consignment has be placed under the storage of a world re-known finance and security company in Europe after our investigations has confirmed that it is not drug or terrorist money but clean money. We are sorry for this mix up.
Let me introduce myself to you,my name is Mr.Bernard Kouchner an investigation officer with the above agency. I wish to let you know that,in line with the policy of international financial shipment of such highly placed financial consignment i am mandated to contact you for a proper re-direction of your finance to you because i have been able to submit the report of my investigation of the source of your funds to The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that the financial consignment of Cash funds were either for capital investment, inheritance or charity funds because is not connected in anyway to any drug or terrorist organization.With this explanation it has been approved that the security company should release it to you.
 
The initial cash release of Ten Million Five Hundred Million (UD$10.5) has been deposited with a Security Company in Europe. So, you are advised to get back to me immediately you Receive this mail and forward to me your contact mailing address/phone and fax number, as to enable me submit it to the security company to start Processing the delivery of your financial package as they already know you as the Beneficiary of the consignment. The storage company would contact you once i submit your contact details to them for their confirmation before shipment.
Your urgent response to this mail will enable me facilitate your transaction on time.
 
Best wishes,
Mr.Bernard Kouchner
Financial Reconciliation Officer
For:Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
European Union.

Anti-fraud resources: