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: "UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kingbrawn510x@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 00:20:50 -0300
Subject: #1 (BANKING UPDATE) DELAYED PENDING FUNDS TRANSFER of $10.3 Million USD IN YOUR FAVOR (REPLY AS YOU

Attention: Beneficiary
Hope this will sound good to you and to bring a good business relationship between us. 
I am Mr. King Brawn; am a Citizen of United State. Chicago, I have been in Nigeria for years Now which I was working with SKYE BANK OF NIGERIA as one of the branch MANAGER for about 2-3 years now before I was made a New Branch Manager of UNION BANK NIGERIA.
I was going true the banking file this morning when I came across your email on the file of a DELAYED PENDING FUNDS TRANSFER of $10.3 Million USD (COMPENSATION/INHERITANCE FUNDS) approved by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA in your favor, which is about 8-9months ago now, so I decided to contact you by your email and see if I can be of good help to you.
As a New Branch Bank Manager in My Bank, I notice that you have not received these funds due to some problem which has been delaying your funds from getting to you.
Without wasting much time, I will like to know from you why Your Funds has been Pending for Transfer and also reconfirm the below information for confirmation to help us serve you better.
 
Your Full Name.................
Your Country Address...........
Your Home Address..............
Occupation....................
Tel Or Cell Phone..............
Age........................... ......
A Copy Of Your ID...............
 
Your funds has been re-approved by a CERTIFIED CHECK with Value: $10.3 Million USD as a New Payment Method which we are to issue you a CERTIFIED CHECK from My Bank and the CERTIFIED CHECK can only be Cash out by you, as Ordered by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA for the security of your Funds.
On this matter, I shall be available 24 hrs to give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your CERTIFIED CHECK delivered to you immediately,
 
REPLY BACK AS YOU READ.
Best Regard
MR. KING BRAWN        
NEW MANAGER OF UNION BANK NIGERIA
 

Anti-fraud resources: