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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: Paw Continental <pawcontinentaluk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:34:53 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM PAW CONTINENTAL LTD OF UNITED KINGDOM






GOOD DAY SIR,
 
WE ARE PAW CONTINENTAL LTD OF UNITED KINGDOM, REGISTERED AS A PRIVATE COMPANY UNDER THE RULES AND LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES RESPECTIVELY, AND AS SUCH WE ARE ALSO ACT AS THE OFFICIAL FINANCIAL NOMINEE AND ADMINISTRATOR RECEIVER OF CENTRAL BANK IN WEST AFRICA.


WE LEGALLY ACT AS A FINANCIAL AGENTS AND FINANCIERS TO CENTRAL BANK HERE IN LONDON.

HOWEVER, AS AN OFFICIAL NOMINEE TO CENTRAL BANK, WE FIND IT FITTING TO INFORM YOU THAT A FUND TRANSFER IN YOUR NAME AS THE BENEFICIARY FROM CENTRAL BANK HAS LONG BEEN RECEIVED INTO AN ESCROW A/C WITH TSB LLOYDS BANK PLC LONDON ENGLAND, AWAITING FOR CLEAN BILL OF FUND TRANSFER CLEARANCE FROM CENTRAL BANK WHICH WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED AT A COST OF $26,700.
 
IN VIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO CENTRAL BANK IN NIGERIA AFRICA, WE HAVE ALREADY MET THE FINANCIAL CHARGES OF SUCH CLEARANCE AND NOW AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF SUCH CLEARANCE BY TSB LLOYDS FOR ONWARD DIRECT TRANSFER (T/T) OF THE SAID FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
 
BE ADVICE THAT AS SOON AS WE CLARIFY YOU AS THE FUND OWNER, WE WILL SEND THE COPY OF THE CLEAN BILL OF CLEARANCE FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TO LLOYDS  TSB BANK LONDON, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY INFORM YOU ACCORDINGLY THROUGH LLOYDS BANK.
 
THEREFORE SEND TO US IN YOUR RETURN MAIL, YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE, A COPY OF YOUR NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AS A PROOF OF YOUR IDENTITY.

AS SOON AS WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE WILL DISCUSS MODALITIES WITH YOU ON HOW OUR FUND WE SPEND ON YOUR BEHALF CAN BE MET, WE EITHER ENTER INTO PREPAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH YOU OR OTHERWISE.
 
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU QUICKLY.
 
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR N. YOUNGER---MANAGING DIRECTOR.

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