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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. Robert Ferguson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chrismorris@yeah.net>
Date: Sat, 25 May 2013 04:41:35 +0200
Subject: COMPENSATIONAL SETTLEMENT OF ESCROW ACCOUNTS

United Nations Compensation Commission
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Web Page: www.uncc.ch
 
We hereby use this medium to formally inform you of the approval of your lottery payment from the IMF and UNCC, Which you have failed to claim because of either non-compliance of official processes or because of your unbelief of the reality of your genuine payment.
 
You have been approved for the payment of US$5,500,000.00 {Five Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars} and mode of payment was as well specified for proper conducts and financial regulations to kick against criminality during process of payment. We have arranged your payment through our swift card centers, with the latest instruction from IMF Reconciliation Office.
 
The card center will send you an Atm Master Card which you will use to withdraw your money in any Atm Center, Banks and Union Pay Credit outlets in the world and you are to acknowledge the receipt of this mail in returning the required below to the Logistic Department by email listed below.
 
Full Name,Phone and Fax Number,Contact Address (P.O Box Not Acceptable)
 
Office of Reconciliation and Logistics Vaults,
International Monetary Fund (IMF),
Contact Manager: Mr. Chris Morris
Email: chrismorris@yeah.net
 
Kindly be informed that recipients shall be liable to all cost arising for the delivery of the donation parcel. This is due to Legal law protecting all donation funds misappropriation. We hereby issued you our code of conduct, which is (Atm-7750), Indicate this code when contacting the Card Center by using it as your subject.
 
Yours in Service,
Mr. Robert Ferguson
Admin Chairman
International Reconciliation and Logistics Vaults
International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Anti-fraud resources: