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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: "Mr.Herbert" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <herbertwigwe@switched.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 06:12:45 +0900
Subject: " CONGRATULATIONS"" OUR Ref: FRB75BFNYUS10

ACCESS BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
FUNDS CLEARANCE UNIT
PLOT 1665 OYIN JOLAYEMI STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS NIGERIA
Our Ref: FRB75BFNYUS10
 
ATTENTION FUND BENEFICIARY,
 
                                      PAYMENT RELEASE INSTRUCTION FROM UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
 
Acting on our capacity as the correspondent bank to the World Bank, this is to officially notify you that we have received a confirmation advice from the World Bank  External Auditors Committee, IMF, United Nations Organization and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) respectively via International Payment Voucher Number: IMF/FRBWDC/ABUS-93WB82UN567-G requesting our bank to direct the ACCESS BANK OF NIGERIA,UK, a subsidiary to the Access Bank of Nigeria Plc System to disburse your due wining/inheritance and contract payment valued at Eighteen Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$18.3M) in your favour via our transfer system in LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM using telex message MT760.
 
In consideration of the above, you have been issued with this Exclusive Reference Identification Number (IMF/FRB-NY/9USXX10751/09), Vide Transaction No.: WHA/EUR/202 and Transfer Allocation No.: FRB/X44/701LN/NYC/US, Password: 339331, Pin Code: 78569, Certificate of Merit No: 104, Release Code No: 0876; Bankers Trust Immediate Telex Confirmation No: -222568; Secret Code: XXTN014. Having received these vital payment numbers, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment within the next 72hrs. as necessary clearance has been granted from the International Monetary Funds External Auditors to release the funds to you with immediate effect.
 
In view of this directive received from the WORLD BANK, we have on our own part verified your payment file as directed to us from OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, and your name is next on the list of outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment this month of September,2010.
 
With that being done, you are required to urgently required to fulfill all modalities and obligations that will enable you confirm your payment without further delay and also make sure you reconfirm your international payment voucher number and your reference identification number respectively in your next email.
 
We wish to inform you of the need for you to also re-confirm your full personal and contact details before the ACCESS BANK in LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM to enable the officer in-charge to proceed with the preliminary arrangements that will enhance the immediate release of your funds. The information is as follows:
 
1) Your Full name
2) Your Full address
3) Your contact telephone and fax number
4) Your Age and Profession
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification
6) Your Bank name
7) Your Bank Address
8) Account name and Number
9) ABA/Routing Number
10) Swift or Sort Code/IBAN
 
Owing to security reasons, be clearly informed that we will not respond to any phone calls/general inquiries placed to our bank with regards to the remittance of your funds by beneficiaries as we are barred from doing so, you are therefore advised to communicate only with the accredited officer for further remittance advice.
 
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
 
TREAT AS URGENT.
 
MR.HERBERT WIGWE,
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR,
FUNDS CLEARANCE UNIT ( ACCESS BANK OF NIGERIA PLC)
REGISTERED PLOT 1665 OYIN JOLAYEMI STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS NIGERIA

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