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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: OFFICE OF THE AGF <emma.chioma.oagf@live.com>
Reply-To: <emm.chioma.agf@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 04:59:10 +0100
Subject: YOUR REFUND

DEAR
 
THIS LETTER IS TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE TO YOU THAT THE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIAN AFTER HIS CLOSE DOOR MEETING WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SECRETARY OF STATES, MRS. HILLARY CLINTON YESTERDAY, HAVE AGREED TO REFUND TO ALL FRAUD VICTIMS EVERY CENT THEY HAVE SPENT IN THE HANDS OF FRAUDSTERS AND CORRUPT GOVERNMENT AND BANK OFFICIALS WHILE TRYING TO RECOVER THE DEBT OWED THEM. IN EFFECT TO THAT, THE PRESIDENT HAS INSTRUCTED THE OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION TO OVERSEE THIS ASSIGNMENT.
 
THIS IS PART OF THE BILATERAL DISCUSSION WITH MRS. CLINTON IN HER MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT JONATHAN JUST YESTERDAY BEEN 9TH OF AUGUST 2012. BUT TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE REFUNDED, THERE MUST BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF MONEY YOU HAVE SPENT. YOU SHOULD PRESENT TO THIS OFFICE COPIES OF THE SLIP OF PAYMENTS YOU MADE SO THAT YOU WILL BE REFUNDED. ALSO, YOU SHOULD PROVIDE COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION, YOUR CONTACT OR POSTAL ADDRESS, AND YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.
 
THIS REFUND ASSIGNMENT IS BILLED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO RESPOND TO THIS MAIL WITH URGENCY. SO IN ORDER TO HAVE COMPLETE REFUND OF WHATEVER TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE LOST, ENSURE TO INCLUDE VIA ATTACHMENT COPIES OF PAYMENT YOU HAVE MADE. YOU MUST NOT BE RELUCTANT IN COMING FORWARD WITH EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO GET YOUR REFUND, AS WE APOLOGISE FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENCES YOU MAY HAVE THROUGH WHEN YOU THOUGHT ALL HOPE IS LOST.
 
WARMTH REGARDS.
 
MR. EMMANUEL CHIOMA
PAYMASTER, THE PRESIDENCY.
OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
 

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