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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: "Dr. George Udo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hfc333@kimo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:58:01 +0100
Subject: Re: Payment instruction

Dr. George Udo
Director,
Foreign Reserve Escrow Account Officer
Central Bank of Nigeria / African Union
Annex office, Zuerich Switzerland

Good day,

We need to confirm from you if Credit Suisse Cie SA ,Zuerich Switzerland has credited your account, with the approved amount of US$15,500,000.00 Million United States Dollars only on contract payment, inheritance claims and lottery winnings, a meeting was held last week concerning release of withheld and overdue payments to beneficiaries, both foreign and local contractors, inheritance claims and lottery winnings as instructed by African Union.

The African Union has instructed for an immediate transfer to all beneficiaries who has an outstanding payment to collect We will be obliged to confirm from you if you have received the money from our corresponding bank the Credit Suisse Cie SA
to enable us close your file and put our record straight.

Thanks for the anticipated cooperation.

Dr. George Udo
Director,
Foreign Reserve Escrow Account Officer
Central Bank of Nigeria / African Union
Annex office, Zuerich Switzerland

Anti-fraud resources: