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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: "Ambassador Terence P. McCulley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un.debtreconciliationtreaty@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 09:09:17 -0000
Subject: The US High Commission to Nigeria /Mandate.

Embassy of the United States in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Telephone: (234)-808-060-9463
Telephone: (234)-803-834-4482
Fax: (234)-9-461-4036
Fax: (234)-9-461-4171


Dear Sir,

Citing the strong friendship between the people of America and the people of Nigeria, and by the virtue of the confidence conferred on us as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I, Terence P. McCulley on behalf of the people of America, and in conjunction with the United Nations delegate, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after much negotiations over the series of petitions filed against the Nigerian government by several foreign investors for non-payment of their entitled funds; it has become pertinent to inform you that we have all reached a consensus and therefore will like to urge every American , the European and Asians Investor to Nigeria, whose payment are still held by the Nigeria government, to rely on our conventional integrity and the constitutional process to bring these funds to its respective claimants without letting you go through rigorous practices.

We at the US High Commission to Nigeria, has noted with total dismay that our fellow Americans like you, are paying lots of money everyday to some anonymous scammers who claim to be in possession of your funds, scamming you by imposing series of illegitimate charges on you for you to receive your fund. Statistics has revealed that 91% of transactions cleared in Nigeria is from the United States, and we are deeply concerned especially during these period of Global Economic and Financial degradation.

We would therefore like to bring to your kind notice that we have stopped further payments of foreign debts through bank to bank transfer (wire Transfer) due to numerous complaints of wrong payment and/or diversion of funds by officials of the Nigerian government. In this vein, we are going to send your payment of $10.5Million to you via Diplomatic Cash Payment services. This means that a delegate (Diplomat) will be assigned to deliver the approved amount to you anywhere in the world.

The money is coming to you in security proof box; and the box will be sealed with synthetic nylon and padded with machine. We are going to appoint a Diplomatic agent who will bring the box of your fund to your designated point, house or doorstep.

To this effect, we therefore would appreciate it if you would forward to us your personal data in the format shown below for administrative convenience:

FULL NAME: ______________________________
YOUR VALID ADDRESS: ___________________________
PHONE & MOBILE NUMBERS: _______________________
PERSONAL EMAIL: ______________________________
NEAREST AIRPORT TO YOUR DOMAIN:___________________
YOUR IDENTIFICATION SUCH AS, INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVER’S LICENSE:___________

The Diplomatic will travel with these information’s in other to have direct access to communicate with you once he arrives in your country; I hope you understand that.

Important Notice: Please be informed that the diplomat does not know the original content of the box as it will be declared as personal effects (Sensitive Photographic Film Material). More so, due to the high rate of scams, impersonation and funds diversion amongst some top officials of the Nigerian Government, we therefore deem it fit and important to give you a prompt tip off to stop communicating with those hooligans and cheats who would only aggravate your efforts and of course ravage our collective dreams.

You are advice to reply promptly to facilitate the dispatch arrangement. We have all documentations intact and you will only be required to sign the documents during delivery.

We look forward to your prompt response and cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,
Ambassador Terence P. McCulley
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

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