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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: "Dr. Frank Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbn_carddept_frankwilliams@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:49:36 -0500
Subject: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT

>From the desk of Dr. Frank Williams
Director Information ATM Department.
Our Ref: UN/WR/011.4XXVX/1080
Your Ref: CBN/WBA/345-BS/2013
 
RE: IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT
 
Attention: Beneficiary
 
On behalf of the entire Staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with IMF and World Bank we apologize for the delay of your Contract Payment and all the Inconveniences you encountered while pursuing this payment. However, from the Records of outstanding Contractors due for payment with the Federal Government of Nigeria, your Name and your email Address was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding Contractors who have not yet received their payments.
Now we have received the express mandate and instructions from the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria" GOOD LUCK JONATHAN GCFR "together with the EFCC Nigeria, the Interpol and the FBI and United nations to commence the immediate release of your funds through our swift card payment center Intercontinental bank Plc.
Based on the President Good Luck Jonathan directive, we have concluded arrangements for the release of your payment to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Note that from the record in my file, your outstanding Contract Payment is US$10,000,000.00 ONLY (Ten Million United States Dollars).
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings to avoid wrong delivery.
1. YOUR FULL NAMES.
2. YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER
3. CURRENT ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM CARD
TO (P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE)
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment will be made to you immediately through an Inter Bank ATM Visa Card.Do you wish to withdraw more than 10,000 per day...Yes. No
Do you wish to use your ATM card to do shopping online than twice a week..Yes. No
Kindest Regards.
Dr. Christopher Wilson
Director Information ATM Department (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources: