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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.John Samuel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ecbmessagerccenter@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:08:50 -0700
Subject: European Central Bank Urgent Payment Alert

European Central Bank (E.C.B.)
Places County Cricket Ground
Old Trafford Manchester M16 0PX,
United Kingdom,
 
 
Attention: Unpaid Beneficiary,
 
I am obliged to introduce my self to you I am Mr. John Samuel,International payment coordinator of ECB European Central Bank London.
 
Please with matter of urgency reply back to me immediately for confirmation before things will go wrong,Did you ask MR Edmond Lash Beneker from USA to claim your funds?
 
Furthermore I have irrevocable instructions from Mr. Mario Draghi, the European Central Bank chief to confirm the below information and effect payment to: Medical Support Services, Inc, because we received an application letter and further credit transfer instructions requesting that we release your over due payment valued at $10.5 million to MR Edmond Lash Beneker with beneficiary company ,
 
 
Medical Support Services, Inc.
610 South Bailey Street
Palmer, AK 99645 USA.
 
 
Bank Details:
Federal Credit Union, 2204 Third Street,
Room 11, Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union,
1020 South Bailey Street, Palmer, AK, 99645 USA.
 
 
If you know that you never instructed him kindly get back to us now,because he has paid for insurance bond policy and transfer charges required to make the payment active. Therefore with matter of urgency your re-confirmation is urgently required to enable us send remittance signal instruction to our account coordinator with the Federal Reserve Bank Washington to credit the above mentioned account on file ASAP.
 
 
Awaiting your urgent response today.
 
 
Best Regards,
 
Mr. John Samuel
European Central Bank London.

Anti-fraud resources: