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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Jacob lew" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jacoblew02@usa.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:05:14 -0000
Subject: US TREASURY DEPARTMENT

I am Jacob J. Lew i am the new Secretary of the United States National Treasury,I was
instructed by the United Nation and also the World bank to ask you why you have not
yet received payment valued of US$5 Million.

Moreover, There are two gentlemen here who came from your country to claim your $5 million on your
behalf and the reason giving to us is that you are DEAD and we want to confirm if you are DEAD
or Not, And if we don't get any response from you within 7 banking days, we will hand over your
$5 million to them.

Thanks and God Bless you,

Mr.Jacob J. Lew.
Executive Secretary United States Treasury Department
Main Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Anti-fraud resources: