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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <watsonsteve753@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 04:38:25 -0800
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT US$15 MILLION

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
           IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT US$15 MILLION.
 
It is my humble obligation to write you this message in confirmation of your fund payment through our honourable bank (NOSTRO BANK). I am Dr.Steve Watson, The Director, foreign operations department Nostro bank USA.the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has empowered my bank after much consultation and consideration to handle all international payment base on our credibility and merit.
 
As the newly appointed/approved international paying bank, we have been instructed by the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Senate Committee on National Debt and the Board of National Contract Review Panel to release your over due funds with; contract #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/008, Transaction #: CBC/RXC/234 and Allocation#:OBN/X44/701BZ/FG/NG.
 
Be informed that we have verified your payment agreement file as directed to us; your name is next on the list of our outstanding beneficiary to received his payment at this second quarter of the year. Be advised that because of too many beneficiaries who want to receive their inheritance/contract fund due for payment at this second quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Fifteen Million United States Dollars (US$15,000,000) only, as part payment so as to enable us pay other beneficiaries.
 
To facilitate with the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information below:
 
1) Your full name and address
2) Phones, Fax and Mobile #.
3) Name of your company, position and address
4) Profession, age and marital Status.
5) Copy of your driver's license for identification.
 
As soon as we receive the above stated information, your payment documentation exercise shall commence for the release of your fund directly to your nominated bank account without  further delay.
 
Yours faithfully,
Dr.Steve Watson
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN OPERATIONS
 
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
CC:CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources: