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: "DR. LUKE ABRAHAM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mail.offiacial@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:39:57 -0500
Subject: REPLY THIS URGENTLY PLEASE

BANK OF AFRICA
FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT
UNITED STATES TOWER
P.M.B 550037 COTONOU
 
TELEX:
TEL: +(229)66 0269890
FAX: +(229)66 0269899
 
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
 
In the course of our General Auditing and Account revision of the year 2014, we discovered that the Bank Accounts belonging to some Benefactors have been changed on the basis that the owners have died some time last year or have given out an authorization note of change of data.
 
After the investigations, however,it was revealed that there are Foreigners who are collaborating with Retired Staff to make these changes illegally without the knowledge of the Bonafide Benefactors and one traced to your own change is this Mr JOHN HOWARD DAY who said you are dead, hence he has forwarded some documents of funeral service held for you so as to divert your fund. he has also forwarded to this bank account below as the new account that will receive your money.
 
BANK NAME: BANK OF AMERICA
ADDRESS: 3661 West OAKLAND PARK  BLVD LAUDERDALE LAKES, FL 33311
ACCOUNT NAME:          JOHN HOWARD DAY
ACCOUNT NUMBER:        229004083312
SWIFT CODE:            BOANTUS33
ABA ROUTING NUMBER:    063100277
 
But we wanted to confirm if actually this is true and hence we decided to write to your email address which after 3 days from now and there is no response, we will then know that you are dead indeed and go on with the transfer to Mr JOHN HOWARD DAY account as given above.
If proved otherwise by you that you did not die, please forward to us all the related Benefactors particulars including your Telephone number,contact address. These details from you will make us reach a conclusion that you are not dead.
 
KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWING:
 
1)YOUR FULL NAME.......................................
2)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS ................................
3)YOUR FULL BANKING DATA........ ......................
4)PHONE AND MOBILE.....................................
5)AGE AND MARITAL STATUS...............................
 
 
Anything contrary to this claim will help us charge Mr JOHN HOWARD DAY to court and prosecute him while your fund will be paid to you immediately without further delay.
 
You have to get back to us on time for us to commence legal proceedings against Mr. JOHN HOWARD DAY and his accomplices.
 
 
We do await your quick and positive response.
 
Yours truly,
 
DR. LUKE ABRAHAM
 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT.
BANK OF AFRICA
 

Anti-fraud resources: