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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: "Federal Bureau of Investigation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sdouglasx@blumail.org>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:26:41 -0000
Subject: Your Unpaid Funds HNZGZXOBNT

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Committee On Foreign Payment
Resolution Panel On Payment
Washington Dc
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
Re: Code Number 811
 
Sequel to the reforms by the Nigerian President, President Goodluck Jonathan, be informed that he has instructed that all outstanding foreign debt accruing from INHERITANCE FUNDS, FUNDS TRAPPED IN LOCAL AND FOREIGN BANKS, SCAM VICTIMS and its associated cases should be compensated immediately through this office. We discovered that you were misled by some officers who took advantage of you as a result of demanding one payment after another from you instead of releasing your funds to you.
 
The United States government has mandated the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER. Therefore You are advised to contact the Head of ATM CARD Department of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA via email for further instructions on how to dispatch your ATM CARD to you.
 
Name: Mr. Uche Okafor
Email: ucheokafor11@blumail.org
Phone: +234 818 811 5222
Central Bank Of Nigeria
Head Office Complex, Central Business District
Abuja FCT. - Nigeria .
 
 
NOTE: Inform Mr. Uche Okafor that you received a message from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER you will use in withdrawing your funds. Please make sure you send him the information below.
 
1. Full names:
2. Address...
3. City:
4. State...
5. Email address...
6. Postcode...
7. Country...
8. Sex...
9. Age...
9. Occupation...
10. Telephone number...
11) Copy Of Int'l Passport, Drivers License, Or Any Valid Id Card.
 
 
Note that you will have to take care of the shipment charges for the delivery of your Atm card to your address. The cost will be informed to you by Mr. Uche Okafor and the method in which you are to send the shipment charge to him will be discussed by both of you.
 
As discussed and agreed, i will like you to understand that the charges cannot be deducted from your fund because it has been endorsed by both the Nigerian and American government. You shall receive USD15,500,000.00. No more, no less. Please do not expect them or even ask them to conduct any kind of deduction prior to sending you the ATM card.
 
 
 
I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. This office was obliged to intervene in this matter after receiving a notice from the logistics department of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA regarding the irregularities on the release of your funds to you.
 
Thanks for adhering strictly to these instruction and once again accept my congratulations. Please note that it is compulsory you call him after you send him an email ( +234 818 811 5222 ).
 
 
Best Regards,
Steele Douglas
Public Relations Officer
Office Of The Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States

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