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: "Ms. Carman Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carmanlapointeun.uk1@ibibo.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 05:06:26 +1000
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT

From the desk Ms. Carman Lapointe.
U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services.
Attention:Sir
In line with our plans to make the world a better place, we deem it fit to compensate those that has been scammed in one way or the other.
We have been having meeting for the passed 3 months which ended 2 days ago with the former secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. This email is for all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world. The UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC) have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$5,000,000.00 (Five Million US dollars only).
This includes all foreign beneficiaries that may have not received their contract/inheritance sum and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.
We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, this has been agreed upon and signed.
Therefore we are happy to inform you that an arrangement has been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible in our bid to be transparent.
Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, we are working in collaborations with the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), UK and have decided to ensure that your approved fund legal papers is secured and authorize by the Government of UK to effect the payment of your compensation.
However, it is our pleasure to inform you that your fund will be paid to you through diplomatic cash delivery from the paying Bank in your favor. It can be paid to you via bank to bank transfer. We have also informed the paying Bank and they are waiting for our instruction to start process of paying you.
Sincerely, you are a lucky a person. This is because I have just discovered that some top British Government Officials/Nigerian government are interested in your fund and they are working to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal account.
I have a very limited time to stay here in London therefore; I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can discuss the best to receive your fund within 72 hours.
I will send you my staff ID and passport in my next mail for identification purpose.
As a white lady, I must tell you the truth and nothing but the truth.
We are making the world a better place.
Yours in service.
Mrs. Carman Lapointe
UN delegate to UK.
Tel: +44 792 4545474
Email: carmanlapointeun.uk@ibibo.com

Anti-fraud resources: