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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: gandiustd19@aol.com
Reply-To: ustd.richardgibson@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 09:25:43 +0000
Subject: Re: Message From U.S Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets
Control...............................................


U.S Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) U.S Treasury Department's
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220
Tel: (267) 797-7034
Attn: Sir/Madam.

This is to inform you that you have been awarded a compensation/grant
total sum of US$1.Million Dollars only as funds beneficiary from the
U.S Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. To claim
your funds. You are hereby required to send your full detail's such as
full name, full address, your bank account details, telephone number,
your occupation and also with attached copy of your passport or driven
liecence for official verification and processing of your payment
transfer as we have scheduled a time frame to settle all foreign debts
which includes Grants/Contract/Inheritance/ Gambling/Lottery(Sponsored
by Microsoft and National Lottery) and other international loans. In
consideration of the above, you are hereby advice to submit your info
urgently as all the necessary clearance has been made from the Federal
Reserve Bank of America to release and transfer the sum of
US$1.Million Dollars to you as the beneficiary with immediate effect.

Congratulation!

Yours In Services,
U.S Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC)U.S Treasury Department's
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220
------------------------------


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