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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: "METROPOLITAN POLICE UK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.investigation@london.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:37:51 -0500
Subject: Are You Still Alive?

Attention; Beneficiary,

My name is COMMISSIONER ANTHONY DIKKOV of Metropolitan Police Investigation Office UK, there is presently a counter claim on your funds by one Matthew Pacyniak, who is presently trying to make us believe that you are dead and explained that you entered into an agreement with him before your death, to help you in receiving your $5,000,000.00.
So here comes the big question. Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favour of (Matthew Pacyniak)? Thereby making him the current beneficiary with his following account details:

Matthew Pacyniak
AC/NUMBER #: 5500136018
ROUTING #: 101019482
BANK NAME: ACADEMY BANK
ADDRESS: MISSOURI, USA.

We shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Matthew Pacyniak, if we do not hear from you within the next five working days from today.
We are already in contact with F.B.I and C.I.A Regarding your issue. You should immediately stop all communications with those impostors who claim to be F.B.I, C.I.A or E.F.C.C; you are also required to forward all the documents that was given to you and more also your communications with them immediately,so that we can release the Original documents to you.

With Anticipation
COMMISSIONER ANTHONY DIKKOV
(Assistance) Chairman
O.C.U Investigation Office UK
Bureau of Financial and Banking Crime
info.investigation@london.com

Anti-fraud resources: