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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: Dave Richards <compensationoffice1@yandex.ru>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:54:13 -0700
Subject: =?utf-8?B?JDEsIDcwMCwwMDAuMDAgVU4gQXBwcm92YWzigI8=?=

Attention;

Subject: UN Approval (USD1, 700,000.00) In Your Favor.

This is to officially notify you that we have received
United Nation (UN) irrevocable Winning Approval
No. UN/6HK/PK/BF162010, Barclay's Bank Transfer
Telex Code No. BB/252/LE/10BG, World Bank Release
Code No. WB/876TRF/15DT/T10 & European Union (EU)
Approval PIN No. EU/52/TKT01 to make a remittance of
$1.7Million into your designated local bank account in your
Country of residence as approval Fund to support individuals
Improve in their standard of living and to help the society.
Based on these official approval orders, you are requested
to urgently respond to this official notification enable us
Process and transfer your total fund amounted to $1.7Million
into your designated local bank account in your country
of residence as instructed by the United Nation (UN).

Dear In recipient of your response to this official
Notification we shall proceed immediately to process and
Transfer your total fund valued $1.7M into your local bank
Account in your country of residence without any delay as
Instructed.

I shall wait your prompt response in recipient of this official
Notification.

Yours Truly,
Dave Richards
Director International Remittance
Barclay's Bank Plc.

Anti-fraud resources: