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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 martins <steve.marthins1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:58:32 +0100
Subject: Re: Contract/Inheritance funds claims notification

Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU)
201 N. Los Angeles Street, Space #201
Los Angeles, CA USA.
Email:losangeles_fcu@hotmail.com
Ref: LAFCU|44.96|16:00 EDT|19/03/2015

Dear beneficiary

Re: Contract/Inheritance funds claims notification

Be informed that we the Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU) have
received instruction to release the approved sum of Ten Million Dollars
(US$10, 000, 000.00) to you, as your Contract/Inheritance fund. We have with
us the entire documentation required for the transfer of your funds from our
bank to yours. We shall be waiting to hear from you for the immediate
payment.

After this recent approval, One Mr. Hancock Morgan from Washington DC
contacted our Bank requesting for the release of your funds in his
name as your next-of-kin/beneficiary, hence you are proclaimed dead.

But before proceeding to effect the transfer to him, if you are not
dead as he claimed,
Please get back to us immediately on
Email:losangelsfcu@gmail.com to avoid any inconveniences. Below is
his Bank account details urging our bank to transfer your fund into
the account immediately before it is too late:

His Bank Account Details:
Beneficiary name: Hancock Morgan
Bank name: Bank of America
Account No.: 9085686846
Routing No.: 54664564

Please, if you are not dead as this man claimed, kindly provide the below
order, the required from you to enable us update your payment documents so
that the transfer of your fund would take place without delay:

Full names....................

House address.................

Occupation....................

Phone/fax.....................

Age/sex.......................

Yours faithfully,
Chuck Rubin
(Board Chairperson)

Anti-fraud resources: