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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: "Jack J. Lew" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jackleww.us@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 20:04:04 -0500
Subject: ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?

U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
Website: http://www.treasury.gov
 
  Good Day,
 
    I am Jacob Jack Lew. The New Secretary of the Treasury under the U.S Department of the Treasury. The executive agency responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States. However, by virtue of my position as the new Secretary of the Treasury, I have irrevocably instructed the Federal Reserve Board to approve your fund release via issuance of AN atm card, which is the authorized bank for your fund release.
 
However, as a former White House Chief of Staff. Prior to that role, Lew was the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), I wish to state categorically that an ATM CARD of $2,5M USD drawn on Federal Reserve Bank is issued on your name after UN-AU Account reconciliation ref:0X3-22SF/NPT-13.ATM CARD will be  sent to you via the US Postal Service
Every and all cost associated with the delivery of the ATM CARD has been pre-paid by the U.S Government. The only cost associated with your fund release is the cost of processing a "Transfer Safe Pass Evaluation code (TSPEC) which is $179 ".
The "Transfer Safe Pass Evaluation certificate" is required in accordance with the U.S Monetary Policy to certify the fund and cancel every other demand for documentation/delay.
 
You can get more facts about the U.S. Department of the Treasury on this link http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx
Please get back to me with a quick confirmation of your mailing address  & telephone number to enable us advise you accordingly.
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
Jack J. Lew
Secretary of the Treasury

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