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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: office file <officefile---8451@att.net>
Reply-To: groupworldbank@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 07:27:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,




                             World Bank Payment assisted programme

                                   Via Federal Republic of Nigeria  

                           No. 49 (B) Ahmed Tanko Avenue Victory Island

                                        Lagos - Nigeria 

Attn: Beneficiary,                               

I am Mr. Simon O. lee, vice President World Bank Payment assisted programme, Lagos Branch (Nigeria). This Group is set up To Fight against Scam and Fraudulent Activities Worldwide. We are Responsible For Investigating The Legitimacy Of Unpaid Contracts, Inheritance And Lotto Winning Claims By Companies and Individuals and Directs the Paying Authorities (Banks) Worldwide to Make Immediate Payment of Verified Claims to the Beneficiaries without Further Delay.

You are Being Legally Contacted Regarding the Release of Your Long Awaited Fund. After A Detailed Review Of Your File, The World Bank Group Has Mandated That Your Fund Should Be Release Immediately. The Sum of Us$4.625, 000.00 (Four Million Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars Only) Has Been Approved in Your Favor via My Desk through installment Payment. I Therefore Wish To Inform You That Your Payment Is Being Processed And Will Be Released To You As Soon As You Respond To This Letter.

 Please Re-Confirm To Me The Followings:

 1. Your Bank Name and Complete Address:

2. Account Number:

3. Swift Code:

4. Routing Number:

5. Personal Mobile Number:

6. Finally Payment Options if you did not prefer to receive the payment via Bank wire transfer: This is to avoid error on the transfer. Note That the Above Fund Has Been Cleared From Terrorist or Fraud Related Activities. Thanks for Your Cooperation. Soon as You Receive This Letter, respond immediately for Further Discussion and More Clarification, Your can email back for further clarifications on below email:

(  groupworldbank@ymail.com   )

Regards

Mr. Simon O. lee  

Vice President World Bank Payment assisted programme

Lagos Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources: