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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: "I .M .F" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs_mwms@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 1980 20:42:41 +0100
Subject: PLEASE ACT FAST!

WORLD BANK AUDITORS/INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (IMF)
FROM THE DESK OF MRS MARY WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR OF PAYMENT WORLD BANK AUDITORS, AFRICA
 
Attention: Beneficiary.
 
WORLD BANK AUDITORS/INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS (IMF) had meeting
with the British Government, Nigeria and as we received a report of
scam against you and other British/US citizens Etc. The countries of
Nigeria have recompensed you the following  meeting held with the four
countries' Government and various countries' high commission for the
fraudulent activities carried out by the four countries' Citizens.
 
Your name was among those scammed as listed by the Nigeria Financial
Intelligent Unit (NFIU). Compensation has been issued out Funds to all
the affected victims and has been already been in distribution to all
the bearers. Your draft was among those that was reported undelivered
as at on Friday and we wish to advise you to see to the instructions
of the Committee to make sure you receive your Funds immediately.
 
According to the number of applicants at hand, 184 Beneficiaries has
been paid, half of the victims are from the United States, and we
still have more 37 left to be paid the inheritance fund of Nine
million, seven Hundred Dollars ($9.7Million USD. Signed by British
Government of United Kingdom,On behalf of IMF.
 
Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was
arrested as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby
warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason whatsoever
as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other criminals.
 
Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (TOM BROWN) Thereby
making  him the current beneficiary with his following account
details?
 
MR TOM BROWN,
AC/NUMBER: 6503809428.
ROUTING/122006743,
B/NAME: CITI BANK,
ADDRESS: NEW YORK, USA,
 
We shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr. TOM
BROWN,if we do not hear from you within the next two working days from
today.
 
YOURS TRULY
MRS MARY WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR OF PAYMENT/ SPECIAL DUTIES
Email:mrsmwm@yahoo.es
Tell:234-7084383825

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