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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: "DR. BERNARD UCHE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.bernarduche@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:26:58 +0100
Subject: Your Contract Approved Payment..... DID YOU SEND ANY ONE ?

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS NIGERIA.
Tel:  +2348120 471763
 
I am Dr. Bernard Uche a director managing director of foreign assets control department  of the federal ministry of Finance and was instructed by the Hon. minister of finance to find out before the end f this month, why your contract payment worth total sum of $9, 500000 (Nine Million Five hundred thousand dollars) which was secures in a consignment box with a personal identification number (PIN) and access code is still unclaimed.
 
However, there are two gentlemen here who came from your country to claim this consignment on your behalf and the reason given to us is that you instructed them to claim your fund; that you are terminal sick. I tried reaching you on phone number which was in the payment file as the beneficiary's direct cell phone number but the number was not reachable, our webmaster made a research and submitted your email address so we decided pass this message via your  email address.
 
We need now hear from you to be sure that you instructed these men to claim your  or not. If you are not the person instructed them kindly fill the bellow information and state it clear that you did not send them.
 
1) YOUR FULL NAME_ _ __ _ _
2) YOUR PHONE NUMBER_ _ __ _ _CELL PHONE, MOBILE#_ _ __ _ _
3) YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS_ _ __ _ _NEARESTAIRPORT_ _ __ _ _
4) YOUR OCCUPATION/POSITION_ _ __ _ _.D.O.B_ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _
 
Upon the proper identification, the Hon. minister of finance will immediately sign the payment release approval letter and hand your consignment box over to the diplomatic call service to deliver your fund to your provided address. Our desire is to serving you better.
 
Best regards,
 
DR. BERNARD UCHE
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN
ASSETS CONTROL DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
TINUBU SQUARE LAGOS NIGERIA.
Direct line: Tel:  +2348120 471763
 

Anti-fraud resources: