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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: "PAYMENT REVIEW DEPT." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aj_response@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:42:44 -0400
Subject: Urgent

Attn: Beneficary
 
RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$8.2 Million US Dollars.
 
We at this office wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of your Inheritance funds and its transfer release documents, the World Bank and the International Remittance Divisions forwarded their assessment report and  your payment file to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment of US$8.200,000.00 to your designated bank account.
 
The Auditor’s reports forwarded to us shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials. We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay more than $950 to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements of obtaining the Non-Resident Clearance Certificate.
 
The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Resident Clearance Certificate to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic transfer or through diplomatic courier whichever is obtainable and acceptable by you. Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and confirmed in your bank account within five (5) bank working days from the day you obtain this Non-Resident Clearance Certificate. This Non-Resident Clearance Certificate will be obtained at the Lagos, Ministry of finance with the sum of nine hundred and Fifty United States Dollars only ($950).
 
 
You are advised to reconfirm your information's stated below ...
 
For further details and assistance on this
Remittance Notice, kindly call and forward your
 
1. ID PROVING YOUR IDENTITY
2. CONTACT ADDRESS.
3. TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS.
 
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Andy Johnson
Tel: +2348147797239
Fax: 08715035099
Email: aj_response@hotmail.com
 
CC: Economic Financial Crime Commission
CC: United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UN-UK)
3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources: