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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: "luwis" (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:38:01 -0800
Subject: URGENT NEWS

WORLD BANK GROUP
Secretary of State for International Development
Department for International Development
World Bank Group,
Equtorial Guinea,


Attn:


The United Nations has been made aware of various correspondences, being circulated via e-mail, from Internet web sites, and via regular mail or facsimile, falsely stating that they are issued by, or in association with the United Nations and/or its officials. These scams, which may seek to obtain money and/or in many cases personal details from the recipients of such correspondence, are fraudulent.

I am Rt. Hon. Dave Luwis M.P., Bill and Secretary of State for International Development AND Department for International Development of the World Bank Finance Group, London Branch,set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide.

This Group is responsible for investigating the legitimacy of unpaid contract, inheritance and lotto winning claims by companies and individuals and directs the paying authorities TO paying bank that held your fund worldwide to make immediate payment of verified claims to the beneficiaries without further delay.You are being legally contacted regarding the release of your long awaited fund. After a detailed review of your file, the World Bank Group has mandated that your fund should be release immediately.

Our corporation is assessed by an independent evaluator each year. In 2011, its evaluation report recognized that its investments performed well and reduced poverty, but recommended that the corporation define poverty and expected outcomes more explicitly to better-understand its effectiveness and approach poverty reduction more strategically. The corporation's total investments in 2011 amounted to $18.66 billion. It committed $820 million to advisory services for 642 projects in 2012, and held $24.5 billion worth of liquid assets. The IFC is in good financial standing and received the highest ratings from two independent credit rating agencies in 2011 and 2012.

Please re-confirm to me the following:

(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(3) YOUR BANKING INFORMATION IN FULL.
(4) Company Name, Home Address:
(5) Paying bank name --paying bank address (Contact person)(telephone)
(6) Age and Marital status:
(7) Payment options. Cash/Bank transfer.



Thanks for Your Cooperation.
Rt. Hon. Dave Luwis M.P.
Secretary of State for International Development
Department for International Development
1 Palace Street SW1E 5HE
Equtorial Guinea.

Anti-fraud resources: