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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: "FROM UNITED NATION OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <privateinga@blumail.org>
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 13:31:51 +0100
Subject: Important Notice!!! Do Not Ignore...

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit ||Monitoring || Consulting and Investigations Division
 
From: Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius
Sir/Ma,
 
My names are Mrs. Inga-Britt Ahlenius a consultant with the United Nations. I write to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from America,
after series of complains from the FBI and petitions against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities
going on in these two nations the UN under my capacity mandated that I come for a first hand investigation and rule out possible solution to the problem.
 
From all indication, after due investigation as regards to this very matter, it came to the attention of the minister, federal ministry of finance and the accountant
general of the federation that there is no cent existing on your favor as one of the legitimate beneficiary of the contract/inheritance amount you are struggling
all this while to claim, but due to the dubious interest of some top officials they short listed your name as one of the approved beneficiaries that have not been paid,
well my dear, I want you to understand that your name is not short listed in any contractual/inheritance payment and you are not going to receive any money as regards
to this subject, it all forged in order to extort money from you by some officials that derive joy from doing so.
 
Meanwhile, I have good news for you, the only place your name appeared as one of the legal beneficiary of any money in our list which bears your name,
is as one of the scam affected persons to be compensated with the total sum of Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars (900,000. 00 Dollars) which incidentally
came as a result of your involvement in dealing with some people that claims to have some huge amount of money for you which I must say is a very big lie.
 
I have met with President GoodLuck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account.
This is part of the resolution that was deliberated on when he visited America to see President Barrack Obama shortly before he took over still as the vice on 10th of April 2010,
and immediately he took over the presidential position on May 6th 2010 he repeated the visit.
The UN secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon has directed that we work in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission
and have decided to waive away all clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect payments without prejudice to affected victims with
Eight Hundred Thousand Euros each with immediate effect.
 
The only fee you will pay in other for you to receive your fund is the UN Notarization fee which the “UN Bill of Right” certificate
will be issued to you that will supersede any injunction whatsoever. You will be required to pay the sum of 650 Euros only to obtain the certificate.
For verification purposes, You shall forward the following: Full Names and Address, ID and the ammount you have lost to scammers.
 
Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian officials like Professor Charles, Dr. Adams etc. just to mention but this few
and some British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with some faceless individuals to frustrate you and thereafter
divert your fund into their personal account. I have a very limited time to stay here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on
how best you can receive your fund within the shortest possible time without spending unnecessarily.
 
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Inga-Britt Ahlenius.
United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Internal Oversight.

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