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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.Patrick James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Mr.PatrJa2006@mail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:49:32 +0800
Subject: Realgems international UNITED KINGDOM

CITIBANK
25 Gresham Street,
London EC2V 7HN, United Kingdom

The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/Inheritance Fund payment Valued at USD$17m in conjunction with British Government and First American Bank.

This decision was made last week.With this development, a woman by name (MRS:JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding Contract/Inheritance/award funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin. We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to represent you.

Please let us know also if you are aware that we are almost ready to transfer part payment of $9.7m USD of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank account stated below:

Bank Name:Washington Mutual Bank
Address:1723 Palmdale Bulv.
Palmdale Ca. 93550
Acct # : 3573813158
Rout # : 322271627
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
Beneficiary:JANET WHITE

If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to this email immediately by contacting the Chairman of the International remittance department.
For immediate transfer of your funds be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office, you are required to send to him an email (Mr.PatrJa2006@mail.com] with your full following information below:

1) YOUR FULL NAME__________________
2) RESIDENCE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY_______________________
3) PERSONAL CELL PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE PHONE
NUMBER_________________________
4) A copy of your driver licence r InternationalPassport_______________________

Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Patrick.James
Remittance Director,

Anti-fraud resources: