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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: "HELLO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithatkins33@gmx.us>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:12:53 -0700
Subject: SEE MY MAIL

Dear Friend
 
 
The World Debt Reconciliation Agency this day received a payment credit
instruction to credit your account from International Monetary Fund wire
instruction,since you are among the list of Unpaid Contractors, Inheritance Next
of kin, Lotto beneficiaries and ATM processes that originated from Africa,
Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, Americans.
 
Apparently, investigations carried out by the World Bank Auditors has confirmed
that you are being asked to Pay certain irrelevant Charges therefore making it
very difficult for you to meet such obligations.
 
In view of this, the Governing Board of the World Bank has directed this Office
(World Debt Reconciliations Agencies) to scrutinize and oversee an immediate
release of your payments that has met the requirements for effectiveness without
any further delay.
 
Consequently, before we give you more transformations,you are to fill the below
questionnaire so that we can be sure we are dealing with the right beneficiaries
as your payment is being processed.
 
(i) Your full names:
(ii) Your present contact address.
(iii) Your telephone & Fax numbers.
(iv) Your Occupations/age/sex.
(v) Your Private Email Address.
(vi) Your Receiving Bank Information’s
(vii) Your Valued Amount
 
You have to finally stop all further communications with any agents, group of
people or any Government bodies in respect of your payment.
 
Please you are advised to contact this Office immediately to enable us
facilitate an immediate payment through Telephone Banking mode of payment.
 
You are not supposed to spend a dime for you to receive your fund.
 
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: