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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: "Nelson Mike" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Citigroupbk@london.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:55:53 -0700
Subject: Hello Beneficiary from United Nations' Headquarters.

United Nations' Headquarters
42nd - 48th Street, First Avenue,
New York.
Telephone : + 1580 7407 779

Hello Beneficiary,

This is a United Nations' notification to you, that in line with the regulation and investigations of its agency set up to look into issues
bordering on Internet Scam and Fraudulent Practices, that a de facto blueprint has been established.

You are served this notice, because our findings revealed that you are one of such victims who suffered the predicament of being scammed on the internet by
some unseening fraudsters. Following the progress made on these investigations, the United Nations is set to gratify these victims. With your
situation properly examined, the United Nations has mandated the CITIGROUP BANK (LONDON), to pay you some money amounted to USD$1.5 million as gratification
for being a victim of internet scam.

This notification therefore instruments you to contact the CITIGROUP BANK (LONDON)'s transfer officer, Mr.William Anderson, with this briefing, that the
CITIGROUP BANK LONDON was mandated by the United Nation's to deposit your gratification funds with his bank. The contact details is thus:

CITIGROUP BANK LONDON (CGBL),
Transfer Officer: Mr. William Anderson.
[International Exchange], 0700 CGB Connect
Email: Citigroupbk@london.com

Do contact him immediately and update me with every development relating to
your gratification funds transfer.

Nelson Mike,
United Nations' Scribe.

Anti-fraud resources: