joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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. Robert S. Mueller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.samwilliams@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 21:34:51 -0700
Subject: Your Mail 01/09/2010

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc
Customers Service Hours / Monday To Saturday
Office Hours Monday To Saturday:
Dear Beneficiary,
Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United
Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. It is obvious that you have not received your fund
due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish
reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your
fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.
The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of
Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the current president of Nigeria his Excellency
President Goodluck Jonathan to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and
other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their Contract Sum,
Lottery/Gambling, Inheritance and the likes. Now the issue is how would you like to receive your
payment? because we have two method of payment which is by Check or by Bank Transfer?
Check: To be deposited in your bank for it to be cleared within three working days. Your payment
would be sent to you via any of your preferred option and would be mailed to you via Courier.
 
Bank Transfer: This option will enable our correspponding bank make the transfer of your fund Via
telephone banking system. Note that there is no fee for account opening.
To effect the release of your fund you are advised to contact our correspondent in Africa Payment
Office Mr. Sam Williams with the information below,
Email: mrsamwilliams770@hotmail.com
You are adviced to contact him with the informations as stated below:
Your full Name:.........
Your Address:...........
Home/Cell Phone:........
Purpose of Payment:.....
Preferred Payment Method ( Via telephone Banking System / Cashier Check )
 
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Robert S. Mueller
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535
Note: Do disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your
fund, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Mr. Sam Williams who is the rightful person to deal
with in regards to your FUND and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act
upon and commence investigation.

Anti-fraud resources: