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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: "Robert Mueller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jimmcharles1@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2013 03:05:03 -0600
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR STATE INHERITANC FUNDS. URGENT

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.
WASHINGTON DC./United State Office.
 
 
[Code ATM-811]
 
This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 5678 9012 3654 9471 worth Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars(US$2.5Million) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our inheritance file of this fiscal Year 2013. Your personal identification is ATM- 7997.
 
You are advised to contact the director of payment and delivery officer Mr Jimm Charles with the information below.
 
Full Name...............
Delivery Address...............
Country................
Occupation...............
Phone Number
Fax Number...............
Age...............
sex...............
 
 
NOTE: -You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means of Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.
 
Regards
 
Mr. ROBERT S. MUELLER
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Anti-fraud resources: