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. Steve Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomat_fred_owen1972@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 19:11:28 +0530
Subject: YOUR URGENT PAYMENT

Hello Dear,
My name is Mr. Steve Williams; I am a US citizen, 51 Years Old. My residential  address is as follows. 5424 Pent ridge Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19143-4126, United States, I am one of those people that took part in receiving Inheritance funds and Lottery funds from African banks and European banks even from many lottery organizers few years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid different fees while in the USA trying to get my funds from those banks and lottery organizers but all to no avail.
So, I decided to travel to WASHINGTON D.C USA with all my compensation documents, and I was directed by the F.B.I Director to contact a man called Dr. Fred Owen, A British citizen and a member of the UNITED NATIONS & IMF COMPENSATION AWARD COMMITTEE currently staying in Mumbai City - India. I contacted him and he explained everything to me. Dr. Fred Owen personally directed me on how to claim my Inheritance and Lottery payment. Right now I am the happiest man on earth because I have now finally received my funds of US$2M (Two Million United State Dollars Only) through A BANK OF AMERICA PLATINUM ATM CARD UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS AND IMF PAYMENT AGENCY. Moreover, Dr. Fred Owen, showed me the full information of those people that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your name as one of the beneficiaries, and your email address that is why I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people because they are not with your funds but they are only making money out of you. I will personally advise
You have to contact him directly on this information below:
Contact Person: Dr. Fred Owen.
Address: Diplomatic Lodge, Nariman Point Mumbai India.
Email: diplomat_fred_owen1972@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: + 91 8879252361
Contact him now and send him (1) Your full names, (2) Your contact Address, (3) Your mobile phone numbers and (3) Any of your photo ID bearing your picture etc, you really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them because it is not  in any way with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing left with you. Once again stop contacting  those people, I will advise you to contact Dr. Fred Owen in Mumbai City - India so that he will help you to deliver original copy of your  international ATM CARD instead of dealing with those liars that will be  turning you around asking for different kind of money for fees to complete  your transaction.
Thank You and Be Blessed.
Mr. Steve Williams.
5424 Pent ridge Street Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, 19143-4126
United States of America.

Anti-fraud resources: