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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: "MARGARET FISHER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desra2000@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:59:01 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY!!!!!!!!!!!!

HSBC BANK USA
FROM THE DESK
Mrs. Margaret FISHER
Director International Remittance Department
 
ATTN: Beneficiary
Immediate transfer of your part payment of us$3.5 million
 
Sequel to the meeting we had with the NEW president, federal government of Nigeria(DR.GOOD LUCK EBELE JONATHAN) and the new GOVERNOR central bank of Nigeria (CBN), we received an immediate payment instruction from federal government of Nigeria to transfer your over due part payment of us$3.5million to your account through Nigeria oil reserve account number 0765455636 with us (HSBC BANK USA).
 
Be informed that on the process of transferring your fund into your bank account which was submitted to us by Mr. BROWN STEWART who claim to be your relative, that you are no more alive, that you died in car accident with your family.
 
BANK OF AMERICA
ACCOUNT # 87967788004
ACCOUNT NAME; BROWN STEWART
 
We discovered that your payment is coded in Nigeria, and there is no way the fund will reflect in your account without it been decoded in Nigeria, and we have also discovered that you have made a lot of payment to the officials that is handling your fund without you receiving a dim.
 
You are advice to contact MR.JOHN OGBONA(PERSONAL ASSISTANT,TO THE PRESIDENT,FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA).    PRIVATE EMAIL:  desra2000@gmail.com he is the only authorized officer that can decode your payment for you, that is reason why each time your payment is approved for transfer they will be asking you to pay for one charges or the other, and the fund will not be released to you.
 
For your own good you are advice to stop any further communication outside this office, Be rest assured that as soon as your payment is been decoded, your fund will be transfered and also reflect in your account on or before 24hours without further delay, and all the international transfer payment advice (payment slip) will be sent to you to enable you confirm the payment in your account.
Best regards
Mrs. Margaret FISHER
Director International Remittance Department
HSBC BANK USA

Anti-fraud resources: