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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: "Mr Grace Smallwood" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <woodforest33@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 02:04:45 -0800
Subject: I am the Director in charge of the foreign remittance department here

 
ATTENTION:
 
 
I am the Director in charge of the foreign remittance department here
in this bank, and I am contacting you regarding our deceased Immigrant
property Magnate, he is from your Country, also referred to as one of
costumer  here in the bank  who dead along with his next of kin.
I would like you to stand as the NEXT OF KIN to our deceased client,
I am the Director in charge of the foreign remittance department here
in this bank,During the auditing and closing of all financial records it was discovered from the records of outstanding foreign contractors due for payment in the year 2014 that your name and company is next on the list of those who will received their fund.
 
I wish to officially notify you that 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 our file, your outstanding contract/next of kin payment with the interest of USD$10,300,000.00 (Ten  Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
Kindly re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm the information below to enable this office proceed and finalize your fund remittance without further delays.
1) Your full name................
 
2) Phone, fax and Cell phone #...........
 
3) Company name, position and address..........
 
4) Profession, age and marital status............
 
5)Banking information.................
 
As soon as the above information are received, your payment will be made available to you
 
 
Please Get back to me as soon as you recaive this mail
Best regards,
 
Mr Grace Smallwood
 

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