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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: "Federal Reserve Bank NY USA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <federalreserveny@administrativos.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:36:06 -0400
Subject: Payment Alert From: Federal Reserve Bank New York

This is to inform you following the payment alert and transfer copy receive from Central Bank of Nigeria and the United Nation Compensation Commission African Region, We has been instructed to credit the sum of Twenty Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only to your account.
 
We cannot proceed with the information we have on our system until you reconfirms your account details to proof its authentication with the account we already have to avoid error of omission or diverting of fund to another account.
In our request for the information needs to  credit your account, are as follows,
1)    Your Full Name:___________________________________
2)   Address: __________________________________________
3)   Your Phone Number:________________________________
4)   Bank Name:________________________________________
5)   Address:___________________________________________
6)   Account Number____________________________________
7)   Routing Number/Swift Code__________________________
8)   Your Bank phone number____________________ _________
9)   Your date of Birth___________________________________
With a Copy of any Government approved Identification attached to this mail.
 
We provide a wide range of payment services for financial institutions and the U.S. government. We also help formulate and execute policies for the oversight of U.S. and international payment systems. In addition, we foster innovation in payment systems and conduct research on topical payment issues in line with our banking procedures.
 
Best Regards
Mr. Ivan J. Hurwitz,
President Foreign Operation
Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Anti-fraud resources: