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: "D.H.S." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <home.se@blumail.org>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:45:13 -0700
Subject: RE: VERY URGENT FROM DHS.

FROM: THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
            State of New York
            Executive Chamber
            State Capitol
            Room 229
            Albany, N.Y. 12224, United States of America
Email:   homeland.se@newyork.usa.com
 
Department of Homeland Security | Preserving our Freedoms, Protecting America.
 
RE: DID YOU AUTHORIZE JAMES BOWEN AND BARRISTER JOHN WILLIAMS?
 
Our office was informed this morning by the Remittance Director Central Bank of Nigeria that, two men in the persons of James Bowen and an Attorney, Barrister John Williams of J. Williams & Associates approached the Central Bank of Nigeria, with a "Power of Attorney, claiming that due to some inevitable circumstances beyond your control (ILL HEALTH) that you would not be able to conclude or carry out your obligation to receive your Contract/ Inheritance fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria and therefore wish that your fund be transferred to your friend Mr. James Bowen from USA, who is presently taking care of your businesses in New York.
 
This Contract/ Inheritance fund valued at US$10 Million had been programmed to be transferred to a bank account with the Wells Fargo. Find the Bank Account information as they have presented to the Central Bank of Nigeria below;
WELLS FARGO
9 Northern Boulevards
Greenvale, New York
Account Number: 1010179906574
Swift Number: WFBIUS 6S
Routing Number: 121000248
Account Name: Mr. James Bowen
The Central Bank of Nigeria had called my attention to find out if you're really sick and had given this authorization. So if you're not aware of this please get back to this office and let me know so I can notify the Central Bank of Nigeria immediately to stop the transfer.
Please if you did not authorize this legal representation to avoid any mistake, reconfirm:
1) Your full name:
2) Your full personal address:
3) Your company address (IF ANY)
4) Your Mobile Number:
5) Your position:
6) Your bank name:
7) Scan copy of YOUR Personal Identification.
Upon your prompt response, you will be detailed and enlightened on how you will work out this transfer to your account rather than allowing criminals to steal the fund. Such a thing had happened to a particular fund claimant in time past and, this is why the Central Bank officials are being careful this time.
We will also give you the contact of a trusted and God fearing Director of Budget, Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria. He will ensure that the Federal High Court stops further instruction on the payment of the inheritance/contract fund to Mr. James as the inheritance is purely attached to your email.
We await your swift response to this letter via e-mail for action in ensuring that your fund is transferred to you through the Federal Reserve Bank here in the United States.
Sincerely,
INSPECTOR DOUGLAS H. KING.
Committee of Police Societies, N.Y.P.D.
The Department of Homeland Security
Email:  homeland.se@newyork.usa.com
 

Anti-fraud resources: