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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: ECO BANK PLC <dhlexpress5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ecobkplcnig123@ozchat.org>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2014 17:43:24 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT


I WISH TO LET YOU THAT MR MICHAEL ALLEN CONTACTED THIS BANK YESTERDAY
AND SAID THAT YOU AUTHORIZED HIM TO PAY THE $69 US DOLLARS NEEDED FOR
THE SECURITY CHARGES SO WE WILL SEND TO HIM YOUR ATM CARD WITH THE PIN
NUMBER,ACCORDING TO MR ALLEN,HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE
HOSPITAL FOR WEEKS,

WE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO VERIFY IF INDEED YOU THE ONE WHO
AUTHORIZED HIM TO PAY FOR THE FEE AND COLLECT THE ATM CARD
HE WANTED TO SEND THE FEE TODAY BUT WE ASKED HIM TO HOLD ON SO WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH HIM,

INFORMATION TO SEND THE $69 TO US IS BELOW,

RECEIVER NAME....OBI MARK
CITY/COUNTRY.....LAGOS-REPUBLIC NIGERIA
QUESTION.........WHEN
ANSWER...........TODAY
AMOUNT............$69

YOU CAN CONTACT US THROUGH THIS EMAIL (ecobkplcnig123@ozchat.org)

THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS FAITHFUL
JOHN UDEH,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE MANAGER
ECO BANK PLC

Anti-fraud resources: