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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: "Federal Bureau Of Investigation FBI Washington" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbicbpheadquarters@live.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:43:40 -0500
Subject: Federal Bureau Of Investigation FBI Washington

Based on the latest development as regards the delivery of your Consignment to your location.It is obvious that a consignment was smuggled into the country which bears your name and address and the CBP intercepted and I know that you are fully aware of the consequences attached to such unpatriotic act. I want you to understand that law is not respecter of person (s). We have all the evidences against you and I wouldn’t want you to go to jail because you will be charged directly for money laundering and terrorism and that will be a life sentence. I have been so lenient with you and I am trying to assist you so that you will not be charged and prosecuted. While scanning the Consignment,our cash track machine detected that the content of the Consignment that the Diplomat (John Owen) is delivering to you is cash. It is a crime to bring in money (over US$10,000) into the UNITED STATES without proper documentations and clearance because it shows that the money is either being smuggled into the country or the source of the funds is questionable. It is very important that all the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source of the funds are provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in accordance with the PATRIOT ACT so that the FBI, IRS and Homeland Security will not come knocking at your door. In lieu of the above,It is therefore mandatory that you provide the Anti-terrorist and non money laundering certificate to prove that the funds have no links with any form of illegality. Being the beneficiary of the Consignment, the Origin of Anti-terrorist and non money laundering certificate is the only way of confirming the source of the funds and it is your responsibility to provide the Certificate before the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery to you . The Diplomat's previous Flight Details shows that he came from Nigeria. We were informed that the beneficiary of the Consignment will obtain the Certificate. Upon the receipt of the Certificate will be made out in your name by the Nigerian Authority, scanned and sent immediately via email to us so that the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of your Consignment to you. Failure to send the certificate is a confirmation that you wanted to smuggle the funds into the country which is a federal offense and a gross violation of the the Patriot Act. It is therefore in your best interest that you get the Certificate as instructed immediately as the consequences of refusing is very severe. WARNING: failure to produce the above requirement in the next 72 hours, legal action will be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you, justificated and if found guilty, you will be jailed....... As terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulge in this criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL ATTACHEMENT AS SOON AS YOU OBTAINS IT. Border Patrol David V. Aguilar CBP Headquarters 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Room 3.4A Washington, DC 20229

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