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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: "Dr. Bruce Thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrbrucethopnsonany@superposta.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:36:24 +0530
Subject: CONTACT MR. PAUL MARTINS OF HBL

 
 
WORLD BANK TEAM ON DEBT PAYMENT
Thread needle Street GB-London
EC2R 8AH United Kingdom
Attention: Beneficiary
 
We the entire WORLD BANK Chiefs, Chairmen, Directors, Law Makers, Secretaries and as Government Agencies of all States Parastatals in Union with the International World security agencies such as, FBI, CIA, SCOTLANDYARD, EUROPOL, IMF, located here in North London England apologizes to you for all you have suffered in attempt to receive your lottery/inheritance/contract fund from several avenues/countries/regions especially people from Nigeria, Ghana and London.
 
During the auditing and vetting of your files it was discovered from the records of outstanding payment that yours has been delayed by some fraudulent officials / your representatives from the origin of your fund. In line with the official instruction issued after our meeting with the board of Directors held on Friday 17th February 2012, be informed that you are among the listed BENEFICIARIES that will receive their overdue payment through these options: ATM card, Bank Draft or Wire Transfer
You are therefore required to fill the form below to ascertain your status as the beneficiary and also to enable us process your payment.
 
A) Your full names and address.
B) Your direct telephone/mobile numbers
C) Copy of your either driver’s license or Int'l passport.
D) The amount of your fund expected to pay you.
E) Your state and country of origin.
F) Your sex, age and occupation.
 
All that you have to do right now is to contact the below HABIB ATM card department director and furnish him with the following data of yours immediately as we intend finalizing this payment in few days time.
 
Mr. Paul Martins
Habib Bank London UK
E-mail: paulmartinshabibbank@globomail.com
Direct Tel +44 7031981971
 
Finally, we require you to choose an option preferably by you to receive your fund. Do you choose to receive via ATM CARD, Bank Draft or Bank Transfer? Please indicate that to him when contacting him.
 
Thanking you for your patience and perseverance so far.
 
Best Regards,
 
Dr. Bruce Thompson
World Bank/Int'l Audit Dpt.
Zurich Switzerland.
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: