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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: "Tony Ken" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonyyken@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 08:42:43 -0700
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED!

Attn Sir,
We  received a payment credit instruction from the office of the Director United Nation Nigeria ,in Collaboration with International Monetary Fund (IMF) to credit your  account With your Inheritance  funds valued at $3.5m (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) from the government reserve account through BANK TO BANK transfer.  These funds have been programmed for release but we cannot Transfer it directly to you, as we are having a little problem with International Monetary Fund (IMF) and secondly a woman from the United State by name (Mrs. Linda Kelly) came to our office with an application Letter stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary Of your Inheritance fund, she made us to believe that You are dead and that she is your next of kin.
We got your email address from our Database file and decided to send You a notice mail through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or Alive and to find out if you, at any time gave this woman the power of Attorney to represent you because we are almost ready to transfer the US$3.5m to her nominated bank Account stated below:
Bank Name: Chase Bank
Address: 1723 Palmdale Bulv.
Palmdale Ca. 93550, USA
Acct #: 3573813158
Rout #: 322271627
Swift code #: WMSBUS66
Beneficiary: LINDA KELLY.
Be informed that every arrangement regarding your cash payment through Bank To Bank has been made and the Fund will be released to you as soon as we receive your confirmation  email  for more details. .
Also send the below required information below:
1) Your Full Name__________________
2) Married/Single_________________________
3) Current Home Address_______________________
4) Your Telephone Number_________________________
5) Age and Sex_______________________
6) Occupation______________________
7) Copy ID or International Passport for Identification.
Regards
Tony Ken.
TELEX DEPATMENT

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