joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "OCEANIC BANK OF NIGERA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oceanic.headquarter@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 13:29:56 +0100
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT ON YOUR FUND RELEASE.......

OCEANIC BANK OF NIGERIA
INTERNATIONAL PLC
HEADQUARTER
IKEJA, LAGOS STATE
NIGERIA (WEST AFRICA)
FROM THE DESK OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,
 
DID YOU AUTHORIZED (MR. THOMAS WILFRED)
 
After our meeting today, concerning the request of one Mr. Thomas Wilfred as regards to your Fund which is with the Bank, we huge you to send to us a CONFIDENTIAL LETTER, stating that Mr. Wilfred is to take possession of your Fund which should also come with your SIGNATURE at the bottom line of your letter.
 
And if you have not assigned Mr. Thomas Wilfred to pickup your Fund, you are hereby advised to immediately write back to us so we stop the processing and hand him over to the Authorities.
 
We hereby hope to hear from you for further progress to be achieved as regards to sending your Fund to you.
 
YOURS SINCERELY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OCEANIC BANK OF NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL PLC
EMAIL:oceanic.headquarter@w.cn

Anti-fraud resources: