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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: file <fbibureau@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: federalm@w.cn
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:04:01 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GOOD MORNING; CUSTOMER,




GOOD MORNING; CUSTOMER,
 
COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY, THIS IS TO CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF ORDER FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND COMMITTEE DATED 21 / 11 / 2011.
 
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOUR TO INFORM YOU THAT WE RECEIVED EXPRESS MANDATE AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM MR.PRESIDENT, DR THOMAS YAYI BONI (GCFR) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN TOGETHER WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND COMMITTEE TO COMMENCE THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS THROUGH THIS MEDIUM OF MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER FOR EASY CONFIRMATION AND YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT THROUGH THIS MEDIUM OF MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO BE RECEIVING $4,500.00 USD ONLY PER DAY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL FUNDS IS COMPLETELY TRANSFERRED TO YOU
 
HOWEVER; THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FIRST INSTALMENT PAYMENT SUM OF ($4,500 USD) HAS BEING SENT IN YOUR ADDRESS THIS MORNING BUT THE PAYMENT HAS PLACE ON HOLD BECAUSE YOU DID NOT FULFILLED OUR RULES AND REGULATION UNDER FORIEGIN TRANSACTION,
 
ACCORDING TO OUR FORIEGIN TRANSACTION STRATEGY THE TRANSACTION WILL COST YOU SUM OF $155.00 FOR THE SIGNING AND STAMPING FEE OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE, PLESAE CALL ME WITHIN THIS NUMBER  +229 96393228 OR E-MAIL TO (federalm@w.cn) IMMEDIATELY OK
 
1) STAMP FEE $25.00
2) SIGN FEE $40.00
3) TOTAL SUM OF $65USD ONLY
 
SO MY DEAR IN YOUR BEST INTEREST, WE HEREBY ADVISED YOU TO USE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE STAMP AND SIGN FEE IMMEDIATELY THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE FIRST $4.500 USD FOR YOU TODAY
 
BELOW ARE THE RECEIVER DETAILS,
 
1.RECEIVER NAME:.....MR.NNEVE ARONU
2.COUNTRY:.......... BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY :......... ....COTONOU
4.TEXT QUESTION:.....A
5.TEXT ANSWER:.......B
6.AMOUNT:............$65.USD ONLY
MTCN NUMBER..........?
SENDER'S NAME .......?
 
BE RE-ASSURED OF THIS MONEY GRAM INTEGRITY AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY.
THANKS, I AWAIT YOUR UNGENT RESPOND,
 
REGARDS
MRS. LINDA WILLIAMS
MANAGER FOREIGN OPERATION

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