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: "Bernard Hogan Howe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bernardhoganh@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 03:45:27 -0800
Subject: REGARDING YOUR UNPAID FUNDS

Attn'
We have the jurisdiction from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to protect, re-assess and refer you to our bank for the payment of your debt as recorded in the All Africa Creditors Index.
You are required to confirm to this office; your knowledge on this matter. After you have confirmed; we shall direct you to contact our bank for the payment of $8,500,000.00 (Eight million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars only) being debt and arrears owed to you.
In the absence of the intended recipient of this letter; any person(s) with the Certified Claim Particulars can stand in as the beneficiary of this fund and will be paid this money in full.
Your quick response will be essential in the process of transferring this money to you in a short time.
Yours Sincerely
 
Bernard Hogan Howe
Commissioner

Anti-fraud resources: