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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: "Federal Ministry Of Finance (FMF)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <manager.debt@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 09:06:49 -0700
Subject: URGENT

 
    Attn:Sir/Madam
    
    It might interest you to know that as the new finance minister under this Jonathan Good luck led administration, we are set to reform our economy by renewing and restoring the lost confidence before the international community by paying all outstanding debts owed to genuine beneficiaries like you. Based on the economic agenda set in motion by the 24 man economic reform team inaugurated under the finance ministry.
    
    We knew that Mrs Farida Waziri. Which  has caused you to pay huge sums of money into wrong hands most  especially to Fraudsters who frequently impersonate the identity of real Government and Bank Officials to help make themselves and their  scam appear legitimate,Therefore We wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be Release to you as soon as you respond to this letter.
    
    Please re-confirm to this office the below information and also state in details why you where unable to received your fund.
    
    1) Your full name.
    2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
    3) Company name if any, position and address.
    4) Profession, age and marital status.
    5) Copy of your int'l passport, driver's license, or any valid ID
    card, for proper identification before the payment. This is to avoid any wrong payment.
    
    As soon as this information's are received, your payment will be made to you by a Wire Transfer option to your nominated bank account or MT103 TRANSFER,OR  ATM, and you can confirm it there after as soon is been made.
    
    An ATM card is a payment card provided by a financial institution to its customers which enables the customer to use an automated teller machine for transactions such as: deposits, cash withdrawals, obtaining account information, and other types of banking transactions, often through interbank.
    
    If by the end of 24hours you have not contacted this office, You will consider this payment canceled as this civilian government will not be responsible for any wrong payment /further delay.
    
    Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,
    Finance Minister,
    Federal Republic of Nigeria
 

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