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: "United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brentpeters@foxmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:33:21 +0100
Subject: Important Message !!!

UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
1775 K ST NW # 400
WASHINGTON D.C., DC 20006-1500, UNITED STATES
Tel + 1 281 946 1368
E-mail: unitednations_org@outlook.com
 
Sir,
 
APPROVED PAYMENT ORDER 
 
We have been duly authorized by the newly appointed United Nations Secretary General, and the Governing body of the UNITED NATIONS Monetary Unit to investigate the unnecessary delay on your payment which has already been recommended and approved in your favor. During the course of our investigations, we discovered with dismay that your payment has been unnecessarily delayed by corrupt officials of the Bank who are trying to divert your funds into their private accounts for their personal use.
 
All outstanding inheritance/contract payment fund originated from Africa should be paid through the Central Bank of Nigeria based on the UNITED NATIONS Monetary Unit payment instructions passed at the last concluded meeting with the international authority, world bodies and donor countries.
 
It will interest you to know that we have discovered an unpaid sum of US$10. 5 million Dollars in your favor and an irrevocable payment guarantee has been issued by the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on your Payment. However, we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation/Instructions; your complete funds have been credited in your favor through the banking system. You are therefore advice to contact: Dr Peter Brent of Central Bank of Nigeria via e-mail: brentpeters@foxmail.com
 
As soon as you establish a contact with him, he will process and ensure the prompt release/ transfer of your fund into your account. So upon the receipt of this message, you are advised to contact Dr Peter Brent  and provide the required details below to her:
1. Your Full Names:
2. Physical Address 
3. Your Age:
4. Occupation:
5. Telephone Numbers:
6. Country:
 
NOTE: The amount to be paid to you is ($10,500,000.00) Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us to monitor and ensure effective payment. Please stop your dealing with those impostors because they are not capable of handling your approved payment fund.  Congratulations.
 
Mrs. Benita Crownwell.
United Nations.
 

Anti-fraud resources: