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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. Dominique Strauss-Khan," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <imfoperationsdirect@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 04:48:45 -0000
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)mail.unh.edu.pe

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
http://WWW.IMF.ORG/EXTERNAL/NP/EXR/CHRON/MDS.ASP
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
REF:-XVGNN8809
ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention: Beneficiary
 
I saw your information were enlisted in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors/inheritance beneficiaries that was originated from Africa, Europe, Asia plus Middle East and Americans. Among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund of (US$ 28,000,000.00) Twenty Eight Million United States Dollar has been allocated to the Europe and China.
 
Just this week one Mr. Mark Rob has written to inform this commission that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to him including his International passport. We want to be very sure of his claim and that is why we are writing you on this email that was found to be yours on our central computer. And we need a speedy response to ascertain Mr. Robs claim.
 
We need to hear from you before we can make the online transfer. But if we dont get to hear from you within the shortest period of time, we shall assume Mr. Robs claim to be true and your fund will be release to your benefactor, Mr. Mark Rob. Kindly furnish us with below information if you are still alive.
 
1. Your Full Name: .............
2. Your Residential Address: ............
3. Your Telephone Numbers: .................
4. Your Occupation: ...................
5. Your Country of Origin: ...............
 
We wait to hear from you.
 
Regards,
Mr. Dominique Strauss-Khan,
Here is my private email { dom.strausskahn@live.co.uk}
 

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