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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: FBI DIRECTOR MR JAMES COMEY <nellieknox21@gmail.com>
Reply-To: investigationalertfbi@usa.com
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:35:07 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR FUND...MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE.

from me, do you get me? I hope you understand how many times this message
has been sent to you. Make sure you call or text Mr George now regarding
this issue....(401) 217-9686 <%28401%29%20217-9686> today regarding the
release of your fund valued $2.5million.We have warned you so many times
and you have decided to ignore our e-mails or because you believe we have
not been instructed to get you arrested and today if you fail to respond
back to us with the payment details below, then we would first send a
letter to the MAYOR of the city where you reside and direct them to close
your bank account until you have been jailed and all your properties will
be confiscated by the FBI, CIA and other enforcement agency. We would also
send a letter to the company/agency that you are working for so that they
could get you fired until we are through with our investigations because a
suspect is not supposed to be working for the government or any private
organization.You failed to comply with our directives/instruction and that
was the reason why we didn't hear from you, as our director has already
been notified about you get the process completed yesterday and right now
the WARRANT OF ARREST has been signed against you and it will be carried
out in the next 48hours as strictly signed by the FBI director. We have
investigated and found out that you didn't have any idea when the
fraudulent deal was committed with your information's/identity and right
now your ID is placed on our website as a wanted person, I believe you know
that it will be a shame to you and your entire family because after then it
will be announce in all the local channels that you are wanted by the
FBI.You need to do every possible thing today and tomorrow to get this
process done because our director has called to inform me that the warrant
of arrest has been signed against you and once it has been approved, then
the arrest will be carried out, and from our investigations we learn that
you were the person that forwarded your identity to one impostor/fraudsters
in Nigeria when he had a deal with you about the transfer of some legal
funds into your bank account which is valued at the sum of $2,500,000.00
only.Note: All the crimes agencies have been contacted on this regards and
we shall trace and arrest you if you disregard this instructions. You are
given a grace today to make the payment for the document after which your
failure to do that will attract a maximum arrest and finally you will be
appearing in court for act of terrorism, money laundering and drug
trafficking charges, so be warned not to try anything funny because you are
been watched.EXPECTING YOUR KIND ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.Faithfully
Yours,Federal Bureau Investigation*

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