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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: "MANAGING DIRECTOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonyelum@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2001 18:25:04 -0800
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

FROM THE DESK OF: DR.TONY ELEUMELU
MANAGING DIRECTOR, MAGNUM BANK NIG PLC
P. O. Box 134 Island Branch, Lagos
Nigeria.
EMAIL: tonyelume@blumail.org         
 
 
Attn Friend
 
My name is Dr.Tony Elumelu.
 
I am the Managing Director, MAGNUM BANK NIG PLC  Island Lagos. I have
 
packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I. As the
 
Managing Director, Magnum Asset Management it is my duty to send in
 
financial report to my head office in the capital city, Abuja at the end
 
of each business year. On the course of last year, 2011 business report, I
 
discovered that the branch in which I am the Manager made 9.550 Million
 
United States Dollars ($9,550,000.00) which my head office is not aware of
 
and will never be aware of it. I have placed this funds on what we call
 
Escrow account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I can not be
 
directly involved or connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you
 
is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 20% of the
 
total funds as commission.
 
There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed
 
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
 
the law, it will be a simply bank to bank transfer, and all I need from
 
you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds with my
 
branch so that my head office can order the immediate transfer to your
 
designated bank account under few working days. If you accept to work with
 
me I will appreciate it very much as you are the first and the only person
 
I am contacting for this transaction. Furnish me with the following
 
details to My alternative email address;(tonyelume@blumail.org)
 
Your Name in Full:
Address in Full:
Age/Marital Status:
Occupation:
Direct Telephone Number for easy communication:
 
 
I will send you my direct telephone number immediately I receive your
 
urgent responds towards this importance,I wait for your reply.
 
 
Dr.Tony Elumelu
Managing Director, Magnum Asset Management
Magnum Bank Nig Plc
P. O. Box 134 Island Branch, Lagos
Nigeria.
 

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