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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <dskoffice_2@cantv.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 01:23:31 +1000
Subject: Dear:Beneficiary,

Mr.Gene Leon
Senior Resident Representative
International Monetary Fund,
Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello St.
Asokoro Abuja,Nigeria
 
 
Dear:Beneficiary,
 
 
My name is Gene Leon, the International Monetary Fund Senior Resident Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.It has come to my personal notice  that so many people has used my name to intimidate and scam people for no just course and kindly be informed that i have never contacted you for any reason and whoever have been in contact with you is not from this office and i will advise you to stop further communication immediately  and follow the below instructions that was approved today after meeting with the Government stake holders.
 
However, following the resolution of the meeting held with His Excellency President Dr Good-luck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today meeting with some members of the Federal House of Senate, an agreement was reached that the sum of $1M US must be paid out to you in the form of a compensation for all the years you have wasted in waiting for your funds to be released. Hence, the $1M US compensation fund has been instructed to be paid out to you in the form of  VISA CARD  drawn on Zenith Bank Of Nigeria. The said VISA CARD  will be received from the bank and  packaged inside an IMF Official Envelope to be sent to you via Postal Mail at no cost to your mailing address.
 
And the time frame for delivery is 24 hours, which is 2 days since it would be sent via a Postal Mail Service. Meanwhile, a "Custom I.R.S" must be obtained from the Nigeria Customs Authority at a fee of $80.only US for a full clearance certification on the VISA CARD . Hence, the $80.00 dollar fee must be paid within 24 hours upon your receipt of this notification via western union or Money Gram, so that all necessary arrangement can be made ahead of time.
 
Make sure you re-confirm your full information as fellow
 
 
YOUR FULL NAME:----------
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER:----------
HOME ADDRESS AND CITY:------ ---------
SEX/OCCUPATION:-------------------
AGE:--------------------------
 
 
The fee should be sent directly to the "IMF Protocol Officer"
 
 
with the below information:
 
 
Name: curtis ogbuagu,
Country - Nigeria
question: Present Year
answer: 2014
Amount: $80.00
 
 
Please take note that the "I.R.S" and the VISA CARD will be packaged together inside the IMF Official Envelope for immediate dispatch to your mailing address. Hence, you are advised to comply as requested to enable me discharge my official duty to your home accordingly.
 
I will wait to hear from you now
 
Congratulations!!!
 
 
Respectfully yours,
 
 
Mr.Gene Leon
Senior Resident Representative
International Monetary Fund
Abuja,Nigeria
 
 

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