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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: "Brian Hopkins oBank of America" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hopkinsbrianfilesboa@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 18:23:05 +0200
Subject: Re: Your Payment

Your Payment.

I am Brian Hopkins from BANK OF AMERICA. I was contacted by the BANK of CHINA TO CONTACT YOU. This is the third time we are sending you this email without any response from you and this will be the last as we have been instructed to commence payment immediately. Now we wish to inform you that you have been slated for immediate payment. Bank of China l sent us an update regarding an inheritance from one late Mrs. Elizabeth Simmons, and they have the sole mandate and right transfer the sum of $14,800,000:00 account as clearly stated in the payment instruction from your principal to you immediately.

Since the funds are currently being held in a suspense investment transit holding account, and the payment instruction from your principal allows a wire transfer of $14,800,000:00 (Fourteen Million - Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) as the next of kin.

Mr. Kent Bailey contacted them and claimed you are his partner and that you asked him to claim this money on your behalf and he brought this account information below for them to wire the money to him:

Bank name- BANK OF AMERICA
Bank Routing number: 026009593
Swift Number: BOFAUS3N
Bank Address- Chowchilla Branch PO Box 37176, San Francisco, CA, 94137-0176
Bank telephone- 800 338-5202
Account name- KENT A BAILEY
Account number- 08753-66621

However they told us to use our office in contacting you since they have tried and failed and right now they are about wiring this money to him today they want to confirm from you first to know if you sent him and if you want us to wire the money to him. They shall commence payment as soon as you confirm that they should wire the money to him. But if he was not sent by you then do send us your name, address, telephone and banking information so we can ask them to wire your money directly to you. Its imperative you acknowledge the receipt of this transfer notification, as it is very compulsory you get back to us to make sure the sole/true beneficiary received this mail. Keep this email and information confidential to avoid anyone from impersonating you.

Yours in Service

For: Brian Hopkins
Manager.
Bank of America.

Anti-fraud resources: