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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: "Mr. Frank A. Churchill" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankchurchill19601960@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:01:44 -0700
Subject: Ref: IMFWB/UN12/RV/12

Greetings,
Your name appeared among the list of Unpaid Individuals and Companies (Contractors, Inheritance of Next-of-Kin, Lottery Payments, ATM Beneficiaries) that was originated from America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Your Unpaid funds has been approved and you will receive a part-payment of Five Million Point Zero Zero US Dollars(US$5m) Only out of the Basic Value of Five Hundred and Fifty-Five Million Point Zero Zero US Dollars($555m), You are requested to get back to me for more direction and instruction on how to receive your funds.
We have your ATM Card valued $5m to be delieverd to you, We have been instructed to deliver the ATM Card package to you in due time, due to the expiration date of the ATM CArd which is fast aproaching. We never knew how soon we would get in touch with you in case of Dumorrage.  We will release this payment to you in your Country of Residence with the IMF/WB Release Code: IMFWB/UN12/RV/12 in your favour, Always Quote this Reference Number in all your Correspondences with us.
Please contact the undersigned for the delivery of your ATM Card and furnish him with the information requested below;  (a) Correct and Current Email Contact Address, (b) Your Direct Cell Phone, House and Office Phone Numbers, (c) Age, (d) Occupation, (e) A Copy of Your Identification, (f) Correct and Contact Mail Delivery Addresses for easy communication and further details. After verification, we can make arrangements on the exact time to deliver your package to your residential address.
Once again, I apologize to you on behalf Of IMF's (International Monetary Fund) (http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/officers.htm) failure to receive your funds in time, which according to records in the system had been long overdue.
Thanks and Best Regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Frank A. Churchill.
for: Andrew Tweedie
Director, Finance Department.
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The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed. It may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you received this in error, please notify the sender and delete it.

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