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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: "Christ J.Hands" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bennmarkk@contractor.net>
Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 15:48:00 -0500
Subject: Re: Urgent Response Needed Please!

Good Day,
 
REF:YOUR OUTSTANDING FUND PAYMENT
This is to inform you of your Long Over Due Payment outstanding in our Banking records and foreign beneficiaries upon the recommendation of the UK AND West African And Asia monetary union in the year 2010 over here. I saw your name in the Central Computer, Ministry of Finance here in Malaysia, among list of unpaid inheritance claims and have to update your information contact through this email contact for your immediate confirmation response back to my office without delay.
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of US$7.5M (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) and it has been approved already for payment months ago by the Ministry of Finance here in Malaysia. However we received an email from one Mr. Morrison Thompson, who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last four months back. He has also submitted his account information to the office department for transfer of the fund payment credit to him as your inheritor of the fund stated herein.
We are now verifying by contacting your email address as we have in our Bank records before we can make the transfer into his account and for us to conclude confirmation if you are dead or still alive. Please in your reply confirm to my office if you are still alive, you should indicate the following re-confirmed information thus below for the immediate transfer payment of your approved fund to your nominated account or Issue Certified International Bank Draft into your receiving account urgently:
1. Your Name in Full:
2. Your Address (Current Address ):
3. Your Telephone Number ( Cell Phone ):
4. Your Occupation & Position Held:
5. Your Age:
 
6. Account Details (Where your fund will be transferred for you.):
With these your re-confirmed information indicated above when acknowledged receipts by this unit International Monetary Fund, we will expedite action immediately on your behalf to release and transfer total amount effectively to your receiving position without further delay within 5 Bank working days. We sincerely apologize for all your past inconveniences and delay in paying your fund to your account.
 
PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL:(christjhand@financier.com)
 
Regards
Christ J.Hands

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