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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: "UNITED NATIONS OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <contactemail1960@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:20:03 -0400
Subject: From: Mrs.Carman Lapointe

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division
 
From: Mrs.Carman Lapointe
 
To:Fund Beneficiary,
 
This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from London, after
series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia,
Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of
America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the
British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two
nations.
 
I have met with President Good-luck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that
he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your
account.
 
Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are
working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your clearance
fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment
of your compensation of an amount of $5.5M approved by both the British
government and the UN into your account without any delay. The only fee
you will pay to confirm your fund in your account is your Notarization fee
$550 to the UN Agent in Nigeria.
 
get back to us with your banking information,
Full Names:........................
Country:...................... .....
Direct Number:.....................
Bank Name:.........................
Bank Address:....................
Bank Acct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Routing Number:...............
Swift Code:........................
Copy of your ID ......................
 
Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some
top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund
and they are working in collaboration with Barrister Smith One Nicholas
Giles to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal
account.
 
have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to
urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to
confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.
Sincerely yours,
 
Mrs.Carman Lapointe
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight.
 

Anti-fraud resources: