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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ben Martinez" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <telexland@live.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:49:33 -0800
Subject: Change of Account

Dear Customer,

We are not sure you received our previous message but we wish to us this medium to officially inform you that following the ongoing review of all unclaimed and delayed funds by the United Nations and the World Bank, your payment file was forwarded to our office for immediate payment of your long delayed funds starting with a first transfer of US$6,000,000.00 with reference No. WBC/LU-14PH, to your bank account as directed by our late customer MR. ANDREW KENT who died two weeks ago after he was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer that was discovered very late due to his laxity in caring for his health.

However, we are surprised to receive another application this morning from your representative, MR. PAUL ALFONSO, stating that you authorized him to transfer the funds to another bank account in Switzerland and that you were recently involved in an auto accident and cannot walk right now. Could you please confirm immediately, your relationship with MR. PAUL ALFONSO and also, confirm if the bank account in Switzerland as shown below is now your new bank account information to receive your funds this week from our paying bank.

CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038 ZÜRICH,SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT NO:5018 1448 1308
IBAN: CH19 0483 5018 1448 1308 1
SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ80A

Kindly contact the United Monetary Control (UMC) by email with your telephone number to confirm this information and to avoid wrong transfer of the donation fund to a wrong person.

Contact UMC with the information given below:

United Monetary Control
UMC Building Manila Phlippines
Tel/Fax: +63 28572140
Email: umc@umc-ph.org
Contact Person: Gerard Trembley

You are advise to act fast before it too late.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Ben Martinez
Director,
LBP Bank Philippines

Anti-fraud resources: