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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: "U.S. Department of the Treasury" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jjacklew@excite.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 10:04:52 -0700
Subject: NOTICE FROM THE TREASURY

U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
Website: http://www.treasury.gov
Date: 10/23/2013
 
Dear Sir,
 
My name is "Jacob Jack Lew". I am the New Secretary of the Treasury under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The executive agency responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States. I was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 2013, to serve as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury. Prior to my appointment as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury, I have previously served as White House Chief of Staff.
 
However, the good news here is that following the resolution of the meeting held with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United Nations, an agreement was reached that the sum of $500,000.00 USD must be paid out to you in the form of a compensation. This compensation funds according to the World Bank instruction will be paid to those that have been Scammed, such as beneficiaries of Lottery winning, Contract/inheritance fund, Retired Civil Servants and etc. Hence, by virtue of my position as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury, I have irrevocably instructed the Federal Reserve Board to approve your compensation fund release via issuance of a CERTIFIED CHECK drawn on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which is the authorized bank for your fund release.
 
Therefore, as a former White House Chief of Staff under the Obama Administration, I wish to state categorically that a CERTIFIED CHECK of $500,000.00 USD drawn on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will be issued and sent to you via the U.S. Postal Service at no cost to you. Every and all cost associated with the delivery of the CHECK has been pre-paid by the U.S. Government. The only cost associated with your fund release is the cost of processing a "Fund Clearance Certificate", which is estimated to the value of $150.00 USD. The "Fund Clearance Certificate" is required in accordance with the U.S. Monetary Policy; and it is the ONLY expenses you will incur before the CHECK will be sent to your mailing address.
 
For this reason, you are humbly requested to transfer/remit the $150 USD via Western Union using the understated wiring details:
 
PAY THROUGH:
Receiver: ABASS BAKAREY
Receiver’s Location: New York, USA
Test Question: IN GOD
Answer: WE TRUST
Amount: $150 USD
 
You can get more facts about the U.S. Department of the Treasury on this link http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx
 
Yours truly,
 
Jacob Jack Lew
Secretary of the Treasury

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