joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "DEPT VERIFICATION UNIT ECOWAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revleejohnson1837@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:10:16 +0200
Subject: OVER DUE PAYMENT

Dear Sir,
We are here to officially inform you that after series of meeting held by the (ECOWAS) Economic Community of West African States, Board Committees,International Monetary Fund IMF, United Nations UN and European Union, on 7th Jan 2013 . We observed the immense complain/reports of foreign contractors/investors/lottery winners/inheritance beneficiary/awarded compensation whose payment has been over delayed and frustrated due to unstable procedures of some financial institution. To this effect it was agreed that all long awaited payments should be directed/re-channeled to be paid through Ecowas Bank For Investment And Development . Ecowas Bank is one of the most reliable and acquiescent bank to enable due process and proper payment to all affected funds beneficiary
In this regards, as the President of Ecowas Commission and Secretary Debt Verification Committee of European Union and Africa Nations in collaboration with (UN) United Nation, I was mandated to communicate you with the new development of your payment and to ensure that the affected beneficiaries like you receive their fund this time and correct some irregularities observed in your payment file.
You are hereby advised to contact the South Africa Region Office which is been head by my humble self via the below information.
Contact Person : Rev Lee Johnson
Debt Verication Committee
Ecowas Commission
52 corlett Drive, Johannesburg,
South Africa
Tel: +27-842296402
Email: revleejohnson1837@yahoo.es

Importantly, you are also advised to withdraw further communication from any other agencies, courier companies or banks apart from the Ecowas Commission Debt Verification committee for now to avoid complications. Finally, kindly provide and forward to me the following:
First and second page of your International passport or driver's license for identification including the following payment Code given to you by the (UNITED NATIONS) UNUK/213/ECOWAS/00-2013 and your direct cell phone number for easy communication.
You can also update us immediately you receive your fund via the following email address : revleejohnson1837@yahoo.es
Thanks so much for your patient so far and will advice you to communicate the paying bank immediately to enable them commence on your payment immediately.
Yours sincerely

Rev Lee Johnson
Ecowas Commission
Deb Verification Committee.




Anti-fraud resources: