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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: "XIN WEI" <xinweii@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <xinweii1@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:24:04 -0400
Subject: YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CREDITED

Attention: Esteemed Creditor,
 
I received a letter of change of ownership today from a certain DAVID S.YARBROUGH,stating that money for the contract your company executed last year which has now been approved by the Federal Ministry of finance for payment,should be paid into the bank account below in his name:
 
*NAME : DAVID S.YARBROUGH
ADDRESS: 11231 BEECHWOOD LANE
WOODBURY, MN 55129-9403
.............................
BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
1290 AVE AMERICUS FLOOR 5
NEW YORK, NY 10104
..............................
SWIFT CODE: I R V T U S 3 N
CREDIT ACCOUNT: 8900624744
USAA FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
10750 McDermott FWY
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78288-0544
 
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT NUMBER:33678871*
 
It is stated in the said letter that you are now late and he is your next of kin, he went further to state that you indeed signed an agreement with him (DAVID S.YARBROUGH) to be your beneficiary before your untimely death after a long protracted illness.
 
He did not provide a power of attorney from a Public Notary (chambers or an attorney) to back his claims hence i am sending you this email as ethics demands.After seven business days and no response is received from you, it will be assumed or presumed that indeed you are dead and as such authorization and approval will be granted on your behalf to him DAVID S.YARBROUGH to claim/receive your funds and we shall not be held liable for payment into a wrong account.
 
Waiting to hear from you immediately. You call the call the number below as it is a direct line: +19406048110.
0r reply to my private email: xinweii1@yahoo.com.cn
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Xin Wei.
Remittance Director
Bank of China.(BOC)

Anti-fraud resources: