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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: official info <official.info011@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:33:37 -0700
Subject: FOR YOUR PAYMENT

*UNITED NATIONS *

*Debt Settlements/Logistics Unit
*

*United Nations Annex, Abuja-NG*

* *

*Attention Please!*

*We are authorized by the Governing body of the United Nations Debt
Reconciliation Unit to investigate the unnecessary delay on your payment
approved in your favor. During the course of our investigation, we
discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily delayed by
corrupt officials of the Bank and Government regulatory organs in Nigeria
who are trying to divert your funds into their private accounts.*

* *

*However, our reason for contacting you on this day is to inform you that
your long outstanding debt has been paid via ATM CARD and was dispatched
through FedEx Courier Service but at the point of dispatch; one Mr. Clyde
Stewart appeared for collection, he said that he is your representative and
that you gave him due authorization to receive the package on your behalf
and he presented an Affidavit to our office claiming to be Approved by the
High Court of Nigeria and duly signed by you.*

* *

*We sent you series of emails in this regards but you did not respond back
to us; However, in the course of our routine checks into our Dispatch Alert,
we discovered that the document presented to us by Mr. Clyde Stewart was not
approved by the High Court of Nigeria and we also discovered that Mr. Clyde
Stewart was an impostor trying to claim your parcel. For our information,
the parcel is presently in Transit at Memphis Tennessee (TN) and was
scheduled for Austin, Texas. To verify this notification, go to** **
www.fedex.com/us and insert your Tracking Number: 875531681014. *

* *

*You are advised to contact the FedEx Courier Dispatch Head in Nigeria with
the information below; and also ensure that you keep the Tracking
Information strictly confidential to avoid any further obstruction.*

* *

*Mr. Chamberlin Johnson*

*Chief Protocol Officer, Dispatch Unit.*

*Email: **fedex-us@w.cn*

* *

*As soon as you establish a contact with him, ensure that you provide your
present mailing address for the officer to effect the change and Re-direct
the parcel to your home address. We expect your urgent attention to this
email to enable us monitor this payment effectively. In line with the mode
of operation of the FedEx Courier Express, you shall be required to pay the
sum of $165(only) as the Re-Direction Fee. *

* *

*Sincerely yours,*

*Dr. (Mrs.) Lynn Bush*

*Director of Payments *

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