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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: Luis Gray <luis-gray@bol.com.br>
Reply-To: info_unionbank0002@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:39:21 +0400
Subject: DID YOU SEND ANY ONE TO MY OFFICE =?UTF-8?Q?TODAY=3F?=




--
YOUR KIND ATTENTION;

WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TO EFFECT WITH
THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS OF $4.1MILLION
ALL THE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED BEFORE A WOMAN CAME TO MY
OFFICE TODAY WITH A LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENT BY
YOU.

HERE ARE HER INFORMATION'S: NAME: MONICA JOHNSON BANK NAME: ATLANTIC BANK
OF NEW YORK. ACCOUNT NUMBER: 089714001101.PLEASE, DO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE
AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT OUR BANK WILL NOT
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WRONGFUL PAYMENT OR UNLAWFUL DIVERTION OF YOUR
OVERDUE FUND INTO A WRONG ACCOUNT.

THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUND HAS APPROVED AND ACCREDITED
THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, FOREIGN REMITTANCE /
OPERATIONS, TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN OWED PROJECT/INHERITANCE
FUND THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESERVE ACCOUNT HERE IN THE CUSTODY OF
THIS BANK.

HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.MONICA JOHNSON IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WORKING
DAYS FROM TODAY. IF SHE IS NOT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR SENT BY YOU, THEN YOU
ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY RECONFIRMING TO US THE
FOLLOWING DETAILS FOR US TO CROSS CHECK AND PROCESS YOUR PAYMENT.

1. FULL NAMES;

2. RESIDENT CONTACT ADDRESS;

3. DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER OR CELL NUMBER;
4. AGE AND OCCUPATION ;

5; COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY IF POSSIBLE;

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

BEST REGARDS,
MR.LUIS GRAY,
Director, Economic and Social Development,
Foreign Department,
UNION BANK.

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