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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: " BENSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidbenson001@ovi.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:11:44 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT YOU GET BACK TO THIS PANEL IMMEDIATELY

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY: THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE CONTRACT FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU OR THROUGH OUR OFFSHORE OFFICE BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.MEANWHILE, A WOMAN M/S SHEILA .A. WERLEY CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH LETTER, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION'S: NAME SHEILA .A. WERLEY BANK NAME: CITI BANK BANK ADDRESS: CALIFORNIA, USA. ACCOUNT Number: 6503809428. PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BEHELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION'S FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND VALID 17.5 MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF CONTRACT INHERITANCE PAYMENT FUND ON YOUR BEHALF.NOTE THESE OFFICIALLY THAT IF YOU ARE NOT THE ONE THAT SEND THIS SHEILA .A. WERLEY TO MAKE THIS CLAIM ON YOUR BEHALF THAT MEANINGS YOU HAVE TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY TO RELEASE DOCUMENT FROM THE FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE(COST OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS US$850).FURNISH ME WITH THIS BELLOW INFO. 1. YOUR NAME: 2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS: 3. YOUR TELEPHONE: 4. FAX: 5. AGE: 6. SEX:......: 7. YOUR OCCUPATION : 8. YOUR VALID ACCOUNT DETAILS: 9. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY: AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO REMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVERDUE CONTRACT FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS, TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN CONTRACT FUNDS THIS FIRST QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS.WILLIS, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONTINENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERRING OF THIS FUND MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU. YOURS IN SERVICE, MR DAVID MIKE BENSON INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT (CBN) TEL: +2348032469253 VERY URGENT YOU GET BACK TO THIS PANEL IMMEDIATELY

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