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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: "Harvest Finance Investment Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hfib@e-mail.ua>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2014 06:52:43 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS DUE AND HAS BEEN APRROVED.

Dear Mrs.,
                  
  YOUR DUE PAYMENT IS BEEN COMMNENCED AND APRROVED.
On behalf of the entire Staff and Members of this bank and Ministry of Foreign affair Malaysia, collaboration with IMF and World Bank, We sincerely apologize for the delay of your Contract Inheritance Payment and all the inconveniences you encountered while pursuing this payment.
 
The Records of outstanding Contractors/beneficiaries due for payment is been pronounced and your Name and Company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding Contract Inheritance due for payment this 2nd quarter of the year 2014. In view of the transfer sum of your payment, we have proudly decided to pronounce the transfer of your funds through Telegraphic bank to bank wire transfer means to avoid any further delays in receiving your due funds.
 
I wish to inform you that now square peg is now in square hole and your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in my file, your outstanding Contract Payment is US$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars).
Kindly re-confirm to me the following:
 
 
1) Your Full Name.
2) Phone, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Company Name, Position and Address.
4) Profession, Age and Marital Status.
5) Working Identity Card/Int'l Passport.
6) Bank name & address.
7) Bank Account & swift codes #.
 
 
As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your payment will be made to you via Telegraphic transfer in accordance with World Bank and IMF recommendations.
Application for the release and transfer of $2.M (Two Million United states dollars only) from HFIB dormant vault A/C N0:14-6990-99001/HFIB. On behalf of the management of this bank, accept our warmest Congratulations!
 
Yours Sincerely,
Ms. Deborah Ashley
Co-coordinator Manager / Telex Dept.
Harvest Finance Investment Bank (HFIB)
Email...(hfibank@e-mail.ua)

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