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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: "UNITED NATIONS OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lapointe009@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:49:29 -0700
Subject: From: Mrs. Carman Lapointe

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit,Monitoring,Consulting And Investigations Division
 
From: Mrs. Carman Lapointe
 
Attn: Beneficiary
 
Good day to you with reference my name is Mrs. Carman Lapointe the United Nations Under-Secretary I write this letter to let you know that I came to Nigeria just yesterday from London, after Series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.
 
I have met with President Good-luck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in your account right now as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon,  We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to release your compensation fund approved by both the British government and the UN
 
You are not paying for any charges because your approval documentations that will back up your fund transfer are here with me your are not spending much money in receiving of you approved fund the only fee Approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations for you to pay before you receive your approved payment is the transfer fee which that is the only money you will spend in this transaction
 
So I contact you about your own fund because now is ready for you to make the claim if you are ready kindly get back to us with your full banking details for your immediate transfer
 
Full Names:........................
Country:...................... .....
Direct Number:.....................
Bank Name:.........................
Bank Address:....................
Bank Acct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Routing Number:...............
Swift Code:........................
Copy of your ID ......................
 
To let you know I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I will give you more details about this and then  advise you on how best you can do and confirm your fund in your account within the next 72 hours
 
Note contact me with this my private E-mail for more discussions (lapointe@usa.com)
 
Thanks for your understanding
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Mrs.Carman Lapointe
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight

Anti-fraud resources: