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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: "Gen.Michael Flynn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelflynn@army-us.org>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:50:25 +0200
Subject: MY EMAIL TO YOU

Dear Friend,

Accept my sincere apology for sending unsolicited email to you, I will like to introduce myself properly, my name is Major General Michael T.Flynn, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence (CJ2), for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. I was among the troop that went for international rescue assignment in Iraq where we discovered some stash of money over USD$650M in Baghdad, you can check reference on this link; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2988455.stm
The money was flown out of the country (IRAQ) to a "secure location" for counting purposes and will eventually be returned to Iraq to help rebuild the country then. Afterwards I personally found a stash with the sum of USD$12.5M which I instructed an agency of United Nations delivery unit to help move out of Iraq and safe deposited with National Westminster Bank in London, England. This amount has been deposited in a sundry account (open beneficiary) with the bank since September 2003.
There is no way I can send the funds direct to any bank in my country, United State on my name due to my position and some other circumstances.
I know that my actions may not seem right to many but I have no option than to keep this money after much consideration of the risk and danger of war life.
Today we are in Afghanistan, and the only means of communicating with outside world is via Skype and email. Now i need your urgent sincere assistant, I want you to be very honest from your heart to help me receive these funds in your country. I will be glad part 40% sum of these funds to compensate your attention, time and effort just to ensure that you will be very honest in dealing with me. Note that every information on this email must not be disclosed to a third party for any reason there may be for security reason and in order to protect my interest, even if you have chosen not to assist me please keep confidential.
I will need the following information from you to prepare the letter of authorization that you shall present to the bank and facilitate paper works that will make you the new funds beneficiary of these funds.

YOUR FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
POSITION:
TELEPHONE:
MOBILE:
Fax:

I will send letter of authorization to National Westminster Bank to transfer these funds to any of your nominated bank account once you have reply and agreed to assist me as it is stated herein.
Do reply to: michaelflynn@army-us.org

God bless you.

Yours in sincerely,
Major Gen. Michael T.Flynn,
Deputy Chief of Staff,
Intelligence (CJ2)

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