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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: "Dr Abraham More" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <abrahammore2012@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2014 09:58:40 -0500
Subject: INHERITANCE CLAIM.

Financial Action Task Force.
ECOWAS Liasion Building, 6 King George
V Road, Onikan, P.O.Box 12745 Ikoyi, Lagos.
 
Attn:
 
Re: Notification of Compensation Payment.
I am Dr Abraham  More, former executive director of (GIABA) The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, Internet Scams and other Financial related crimes in West Africa. We are in a Joint Operation Services with the Central Banks of Signatory States, regional Securities and Exchange Commissions, UEMOA, Banque Ouest Africaine pour le Développement (BOAD), the French Zone Anti-Money Laundering Liaison Committee, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the FATF, Interpol and the European Union e.t.c. to bring prompt eradication of on-going internet scam and Bank frauds in the West African region with the assistance of United States Government.
 
I was the Director General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa between May 2006 – February 2014, It was based on my accountability and capability during my tenure that the  Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the executives members, mandated me to head this newly enacted Scam Victims Compensation Programme.
We have been able to crack-down and arrested so many of these internet fraudsters and impostors who claimed and disguised themselves as Central Bank Governor, Barristers, Bank Officials, Dating partner, Lottery Agents, who pretends to have Contract or Inheritance money to transfer to your account, and wanted you to stand-in as a next of kin of a Deposited Fund which does not exist. These culprits are now in our custody here in Lagos Nigeria prisons awaiting for the Court to pronounce their judgement. We have been able to recover Laptop computers and huge amount of money from these fraudsters.
 
But be that as it may, I hereby bring to your cognizance that, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has earmarked the sum of Nine Hundred million U.S dollars ($900,000.000) for Compensation of Scam victims in the West African region. This gesture is to uplift the image of the Economic Community of West African States battered by these scam artist. The United Nations Security Council and the United States Government and other Foreign Government institutions unanimously agreed that the the money recovered from these fraudsters should be added to the earmarked ($900,000.000) and shared among the scammed victims.
 
This letter is been directed to you because your Name & E-mail address was found in one of the arrested impostor's laptop computer data in our custody, so you are lucky to be among the recipient of this compensation payment.
 
To this good development, Our Commission has approved a compensation payment sum of Nine million three hundred thousand u.s.Dollars ($9,3000.000) for you.Since you are short-listed among the lucky beneficiaries who will be paid. we have arranged your payment to be released to you, through our authorized accredited paying Bank.
 
 
 
Dr Abraham  More (Director General)
 
E-mail: abrahammore2012@hotmail.com

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