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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. Ben S. Bernanke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bernanke_m@ymail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:18:38 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS

FROM THE HEAD OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
 
About me: http://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/bios/board/bernanke.htm
GOOD NEWS THE ONLY FEE REQUIRED FROM YOU IS $70 ONLY AND THE FEE NEED TO BE PAID TODAY TO ENABLE THE DELIVERY WITHIN 18 HOURS THERE IS NO MUCH TIME LEFT THE DELIVERY MUST COMMENCE TODAY.
I also  want you to abide to the instruction below to avoid more delay problem and I also want to use this means to let you know i just received an update from the U.S Embassy and there will be an Internation Flight comming to the closet International airport close to you city today and Nwanorue Bathram Chijindu will board today flight and delivered your package to you.
Your Visa Credit Card contain $10.5 Million usd with daily limmit withdraw of $12,000 per day and the Verified Cashier check which worth $3 Million usd and can cashed out from any bank worldwide.
This will be the last Email from me and if no sign of seriousness is shown i will have no choice than to program your Visa Credit and the Cashier check out of service and it will be useless and this will be the end.
USE THE INFORMATION OF NWANORUE BATHRAM CHIJINDU AN OFFICIAL AGENT TO THE U.S EMBASSY AND ALSO A U.S CITIZEN TO SEND THE REQUIRED CHARGE FEE $70 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM.
ONCE YOU SEND THE PAYMENT DELIVERY WILL COMMENCE TODAY AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE PACKAGE 18 HOURS ONCE FLIGHT COMMENCE I ASSURE YOU.
RECEIVER NAME:NWANORUE BATHRAM CHIJINDU
ADDRESS:LAGOS/NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION:IN GOD
ANSWER:WE TRUST
 
Once again you have nothing to worry about once the charge fee is received you will receive your package in the next 18 hours once the flight take commence.
Await your reply and the required payment confirmation details so i can forward the details to NWANORUE BATHRAM CHIJINDU.
Dr. Ben S. Bernanke
Chairman of the Board of Governors
Federal Reserve Bank
 

Anti-fraud resources: