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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: "FedEx Delivery Service" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bryan.smith1960@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:25:07 -0800
Subject: PARCEL #: EG2272

FEDEX COURIER SERVICE,
EDO STATE,NIGERIA
WEST AFRICA.
24-10-2010.

Dear Customer!
SHIPMENT CODE: CPEL/OWN/9856
PARCEL #: EG2272

You have a parcel contaning a cheque worth Eight
Hundred Thousand Dollars [$800,000.00USD] with us at
the fedex delivery company. Your delivery charges has been paid for.
All you have to do is to re-confirm your information
with the correct mailing address and make a payment of
$220.00USD only [Two Hundred and Twenty Dollars Only]
for the security keeping fee of the said parcel.
Please reconfirm your details:

FULL NAMES:
TELEPHONE:
POSTAL ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:


Best Regards
Mr. Bryan Smith
FedEx Dispatch Office

Anti-fraud resources: