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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/N" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bduke170@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:43:34 +0530
Subject: U/N

United Nations Compensation Unit, In Affiliation with World
 
Bank Our Ref: U.N/WBO/042UK/2015.
E-Mail:bduke170@gmail.com
 
Congratulations Beneficiary,
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family?
 
You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have
 
been having a meeting for the past 7 months which just
 
ended few days ago with the secretary to the UNITED
 
NATIONS. This email is to all the people that have been
 
scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS in
 
Affiliation with WORLD BANK have agreed to compensate them
 
with the sum of USD US$750,000.00 Dollars.
 
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not
 
received their contract sum, and people that have had an
 
unfinished transaction or international businesses that
 
failed due to Government problems etc. We found your name
 
in the list of those who are to benefit from these
 
compensation exercise and that is why we are contacting
 
you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed. You
 
are advised to contact Dr.Ben Duke of our paying center in
 
Africa, as he is our representative in Nigeria, contact him
 
immediately for your Cheque/ International Bank Draft of
 
US$750,000.00 Dollars.
 
This fund is in form of a Bank Draft for security purpose
 
ok? So he will send it to you and you can clear it in any
 
bank of your choice. Therefore, you should send him your
 
full Name and telephone number your correct mailing address
 
where you want him to send the Draft to you. Contact Dr.Ben
 
Duke of ZENITH BANK PLC PAYMENT CENTER with your payment
 
code:ST/DPI/829 immediately for your Cheque at the given
 
address below:
 
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: DR.Ben Duke
E-MAIL:bduke170@gmail.com
 
 
I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you
 
might have encountered in receiving your fund in the past.
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear
 
from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft. Making the
 
world a better place.
 
You are required to contact the above person and furnish
 
him with the following of your information that will be
 
required to avoid any mistakes:-
 
1. Your Full Name :
2. Your Home/Mobile Telephone No:
3. Your Home or Office Address :
4. Age/Occupation/Marital Status:
5. Scanned copy of your identification:
 
Congratulations, and I look forward to hear from you as
 
soon as you confirm your payment making the world a better
 
place.
 
Regards,
United Nation.
 

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