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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: "International Monetary Funds" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <strausskahn@secretarias.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:47:25 +0100
Subject: Dead or Alive

Hello Dear,
 
This is to inform you of your long overdue Payment outstanding with our Bankingrecords. This is to inform you that your name came first from our Central Computer among the list of unpaid Inheritance claims individuals and have toupdate your information through this email contact for immediate confirmation.
 
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment ofUS$2,500,000 million (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars)and it has been approved already for payment months ago.However, we received an email from one Mr. Morris Lint,who told us That you are dead and he is your next of kin and that you died in a car Accident four months has also submitted his Account information to the Accounting office department of our Bank for Immediate transfer of the fund to him as your inheritor.
 
Regarding our investigation from the Bank & the Nigerian Police Force (N.P.F) inconjunction with the Economic Financial Crime Commission (E.F.C.C) we are now verifying by contacting your email address as we have in our Bank records before we can Make the transfer into his account and for us to conclude with
 
confirmation if you are dead or not.Please, confirm response immediately through the e-mail as below with Proof,before our action release of the outstanding payment against your name listed
out. Upon this, i request you send your full personal information as soon as possible to enable this department finalize The transfer of the fund release to your nominated foreign Bank Account.
 
This department needs the following information From you urgently to enable us verify with the Information we have in the Central computer of the Bank.
 
1. Full Names
 
2. Telephone
 
3. Contact Address.
 
4. Age..........
 
5. Occupation..........
 
6. Sex..........
 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that
 
is privileged, confidential and exempt from Disclosure under applicable law.Once again, I apologize to you on behalf of International Monetary fund Agency
towards this contact and proper confirmation required urgently from you if alive.
 
Yours Sincerely
Dominque Strauss Kahn
 
International Monetary Fund Agency
 

Anti-fraud resources: