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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: "EFCC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.union1234@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:37:27 -0800
Subject: E.F.C.C

Attention,

After proper and several investigations and research at Western Union and
Money Gram Office,
we found your name in Western Union database amongst those that have sent
money through Western Union to Nigeria and this proves that you have truly
been swindled by those unscrupulous persons by sending money to them
through Western Union/Money Gram in the course of getting one fund or the
other that is not real, right now we are working hand in hand with Western
Union to track every fraudsters down, do not respond to their e-mails,
letters and phone calls any longer as they are scammers and you should be
very careful to avoid being a victim to fraudsters any longer because they
have nothing to offer you but to rip-off what you have worked earnestly
hard to earn.

In this regard a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and as a consequence of
our investigations it was agreed that the sum of sixty thousand US Dollars
(US$200,000.00) should be transferred to you out of the funds that Federal
Government of Nigeria has set aside as a compensation to everyone who have
by one way or the other sent money to fraudsters in Nigeria.

***Please note that we will no longer be liable for any loss, cost or
expense whatsoever, suffered or incurred by You in connection with the
fraudsters.

Be warned!

We have deposited your fund at Western Union Money Transfer agent location
EMS Post office Lagos, Nigeria. We have submitted your details to them so
that your fund can be transferred to you. We have paid the Registration
and Transfer fees and for security reasons we have also insured your fund
to avoid misappropriation.

Contact the Western Union agent office through our email addresses
stated below;

w.union1234@hotmail.com
claimnotify@hotmail.com

Yours sincerely,

Vivian Edwards
Investigation Officer.

******************************************************************************************************************
Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently been made
to unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their
funds. Everyday, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams
of one way or the other. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery
win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment
programme . In the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate
yourself from all correspondence and transactions entered into based on
evidently fraudulent and fictitious claims.
*****************************************************************************************************************

©2011 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC, Powered by
Information and Communication Technology Dept.

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