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: "Mr. Rick Ruzzi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usbankcustomerscare0@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:17:54 +0100
Subject: Attention: Good Day.

U.S. Bank
101 N Washington Sq # 900, Lansing, MI
 
Attention: Good Day.
 
This message is to inform you that the U.S Government has instructed us to remit the sum of $5. Million US dollar
into your account, the reason for this is because your name was among the scam victims that lost alot of money to
African and European Fraudsters, you are hereby advised to without delay stop all you have going on between you
and anybody on internet because you will end up at nothing, hence, there are two options to receive your funds.
(1) By Bank to Bank Wire Transfer
(2) By Atm Card
We are waiting your immediate response with your information to enable this bank proceeds immediately with the
transfer of your fund and serve you better.
Full Name....................
Home Address.................
Age/Occupation..............
Valid Phone number............
Your Country........
Any Of Your Identity Card........
Do not send money up front fee to anyone from Europe or African again for what so ever reason. The US bank will
immediately remit your account once I reconfirm your banking details.
Congratulations.
Mr. Rick Ruzzi
Executive Region Manager
USBANK.

Anti-fraud resources: