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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.George Osborne" <mr.petergordon@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: osbornemr.george@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:26:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)


INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
DEPT: WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION AGENCIES.
ADVISE: YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT NOTIFICATION


Attention: Beneficiary,


I
saw your email ( in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid
contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was
originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, Americans ) among
the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been
located to the CITI BANK.

Your email appeared among the
beneficiaries, who will receive a part-payment of your contractual sum
and has been approved already for months. You are requested to get back
to me for more direction and instruction on how to receive your fund.
However, we received an email from one Mr. Johnson Robert who told us
that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last
week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to
him including his International passport; we want to hear from you
before we can make the transfer to confirm if you are dead or not?

 Please if you are still alive, kindly furnish us with below information:


1. Your Full Name........
2. Address...............
3.Country..................
4. Age....................
5. Occupation................
6.Telephone Number...........
7. Next Of Kin..................
 
You
are to call this office +91 965 402 1758 immediately for
clearifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 hrs to speak
with you and give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure that
your payment is wired to you immediately.


Once again, I
apologize to you on behalf Of IMF (International Monetary Fund) for
failure to pay your funds in time, which according to records in the
system had been long overdue.


Regards,


Mr.George Osborne
Office of the IMF India

Anti-fraud resources: