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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: james willinton <willinton_j@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: james willinton <harrymorgan@admin.in.th>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:06:59 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: DID YOU ASK ANY ONE TO PICK UP YOUR FUND?


 Pay Attention Dear,
PAYMENT SCHEDULE/CBN/FEDRESERVE SSCE 0809XX1
FOREIGN PAYMENT APPROVAL.

With reference to the approval of your inheritance issued to us and in
pursuant to the foreign payment act,laws/treaties(payment intact to the
beneficiary) we have been instructed to release your total sum by a
certified Cheque to you.There is no instruction to change the ownership of
the fund to your Brother DIANA Gino.

There is no time we were instructed to transfer your money to the account
of Mrs Johnson (your sister)who you just authorize to pay your fees and
collect your money on your behalf without any formal information to us.
The bank especially this Commercial bank that deals with foreign
inheritance fund have rules of payment.We cannot release the money to her.
Tell her that I said ,,,,.......
It is completely illegal to transfer the ownership of your fund to your
sister Diana Johnson ,change your address under 24hrs without telling us
.That you don't have the fee is not a guarantee for you to instruct
transfer of the fund to your sister. We have no problem and will release
the money to her but we need your letter of agreement made with her or
power of attorney by which you authorized her as your next of kin to
change your name,pay the fee and receive your funds for you in her own
name.
Please,call me immediately or email me on :harrymorgan@admin.in.th)
with the accredited above to enable us complete and effect the payment to
her designated name/address nominated to us Thanks but NO thanks to send
your sister(as your Representative) without our information.We cannot
release the money to her unless we hear from you.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
MR HARRY MORGAN

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