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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: UNION BANK PLC <donovannsmitt@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revsteven_ubn@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 19:25:41 +0100
Subject: BANK INTERVENTION ON YOUR PAYMENT

*GOODDAYCALL US UNION BANK INTERVENTION ON YOUR PAYMENTThis is to notify
all Foreign Funds Transfer Beneficiary that the President have embarked on
immediate cancellation of all International payment Application from every
Government Financial Institution/Offshore payment Bank,due to a lot of
beneficiaries complain of paying fees and charges before their fund can be
released to them.However, with regard to provision of section 117 degree of
the 1999 constitution,all foreign payment fund has been re-approved and
assigned to UNION BANK for immediate released of your the re-approved fund
of part payment of US$6.5m USD.The BANK has up hold all payment fund
retrieved from various banks to ensure successful payment to the rightful
beneficiary who his/her fund has been approved for payment within the next
72hours,your fund has been delay for previous years due to the fact that
you are engage with corrupt officials in the bank that promise to help you
through the back door which is not possible.The Federal Government in
conjunction with the United Nation have put a new law to stop fraudulent
act and to those bank that promise to help you through the back door to
receive your fund,You'are warmed to stop further communication with any
individual or Bank that may contact you in this regard,your fund will be
release to you through our oil reserve account with as soon as we issue
you currency capitalcontrol clearance certificate which has cost the delay
of your fund for many years.Re-confirm to me the followings(1) Your full
names:(2) Contact address:(3) Tel-Fax/cell phone numbers:(4)
Occupation/Position:(5) Name of company if any:(6) Age and marital
status.As soon as we receive this information, we shall proceed immediately
for your payment without further delay.Regards,Rev Dr StevenUNION BANK*

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