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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: "Edward" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednations.paymentoffice@mynet.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 17:18:19 -0800
Subject: Good News,Your ATM Card payment of us$650,000,00 is ready now.

Dear Beneficiary,

REF/PAYMENTS CODE: UN/NIG/091603 $650,000.00 USD ONLY.

For your information, Due to the delay in your $650.000.00 compensation payment from
United Nations, We have received an instruction to pay you through ATM Card Payment
under United Nations and your Card is ready now to be sent to you.

Get back to us as soon as possible for the delivering of your ATM ATM Card and do forward
your your address where your ATM Card will be sent to with all the Operative
instruction on how to use your ATM Card and the Limit to withdraw in a day.

I am waiting now.

Mr. Johnson Edward.
Protocol Officer

Anti-fraud resources: