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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: "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" <jesse4u@barid.com>
Reply-To: "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" <dhsdesk444@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 00:37:04 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam,


 

Dear Sir/Madam,

This office writes to inform you that you have US$4Million credited in your name and is currently floating in EcoBank-Benin Republic in Africa. The Fund which Originated from your Unpaid Contract/inheritance is overdue to be released to you. You are listed among those whose unpaid fund has been approved for Payment by the government of Benin Republic and under the Stipulated Guideline of Benin Government, Any amount of money that has been found in the International Financial Data Base waiting to be transfer without claims after the submission of every payment report shall be confiscated and forfeited to the Government Treasury if not claimed within a reasonable period.

Your file was submitted to us this morning and we were instructed to reach you immediately. As a matter of fact, you are required to get back to us ASAP providing your Data to us for verification purpose and as soon as you are verified and your information the same with the one we have here, we shall get back to you with the direct email of the bank so that you can email them for the release of your fund.

The Details require from you are:

Your Full Name:
Your Home Address:
Direct Phone No:

Once you provide the needed requirements, we shall verify you and forward it to Ecobank for immediate release of your fund to you. Ensure that you write back to me as soon as possible otherwise the Benin Government shall have no other option than to carry out the confiscation process.

Yours Sincerely

Jeh C. Johnson
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Note: You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institution in respect to your Transaction as your fund will be released to you directly from EcoBank and any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk.

Anti-fraud resources: