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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. Alan Dike" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drdike@kimo.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:07:23 -0800
Subject: Re: Swift Transafer Notification

Dr. Alan Dike
Director,
Foreign Reserve Escrow Account Officer
African Union
Annex office, London


Good day,

We need to confirm from you if Halifax Bank PLC., London has credited
your account, with the approved amount of US$20,500,000.00 Million
United States Dollars only as instructed by African Union.

The African Union has instructed for an immediate transfer to all
beneficiaries who has an outstanding payment to collect We will be
obliged to confirm from you if you have received the money from our
corresponding bank the Halifax Bank Plc London, to enable us close
your file and put our record straight.

Thanks for the anticipated cooperation.

Dr. Alan Dike
Director,
Foreign Reserve Escrow Account Officer
African Union
Annex office, London

Anti-fraud resources: