joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: GOLDER HUGS <golderhugs@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2014 08:14:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE TO YOU.


RTN AUTHORITY NIGERIA173 BROWN ROAD STAGUDA LAGOSNIGERIA.TEL: +234 808415 8244
WE ARE HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT AT LAST THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAVE FINALLY APPROVED THE PAYMENT SUM OF US$10,500,000.00 ( TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ) TO BE PAID TO YOU AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OWED HERE IN NIGERIA.
DUE TO THE POOR BANKING SYSTEM HERE THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAVE APPROVED AND SIGNED THAT YOU ARE TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SUM OF US$10,500,000.00 BY INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE THE INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT SUM OF US$10,500,000.00 YOU ARE TO TAKE IT TO YOUR BANK OR TO ANY BANK OF YOUR CHOICE THE INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT WILL BE ACCEPTED AND THE SUM OF US$10,500,000.00 WILL BE PAID TO YOU IN EXCHANGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT.
I ADVISE YOU TO RE-CONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION PLEASE MAKE NO MISTAKE.
A. YOUR COMPLETE NAME.B. YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBER.C. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS............RESIDENTIAL OR OFFICE.
ONCE YOU SEND YOUR REPLY I ADVISE YOU TO CALL ME ON +234 808415 8244  TO BE SURE YOU ARE THE ONE I CONTACTED.
I EXPECT YOUR REPLY AND TELEPHONE CALL.
BEST REGARDS,
MR.GOLDER HUGS.
TEL: +234 808415 8244
Confidentiality Notice:  This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of intended recipients(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.  Thank you.

Anti-fraud resources: