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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: "United States Secret Service"<info.usasecreserv@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.usasecretserv@qq.com
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 04:19:17 -0700
Subject: Re: Fund Transfer Update

United States Secret Service
245 Murray Drive, Building 410,
Washington, DC 20223
Website: www.secretservice.gov
Date: 3/23/2015

Dear Sir,

We write to officially inform you that we have just completed an investigation with the help of our Electronic Crimes Task Force regarding your inheritance payment valued at the sum of $5,500,000.00. The said inheritance payment was approved by the United Nations, and the inheritance payment approval number for the $5,500,000.00 is UN-344972AB. However, acting in our capacity as the Apex body authorized by the U.S. Government to reconcile foreign payments, we are pleased to inform you that full clearance has been granted for the release of the full payment of your inheritance payment valued at the sum of $5,500,000.00.

Therefore, take note that your payment has been approved and authorized for immediate release and transfer into your bank account via the Federal Reserve Bank. All cost associated with the transfer of the $5,500,000.00 by the Federal Reserve Bank will be deducted by the Bank. The only cost you are entitled to undertake as your responsibility is the cost of processing a "Fund Clearance Certificate", which is estimated to the value of $170. This "Fund Clearance Certificate" is a valid document, and it is required in accordance with the U.S. Monetary Policy.

Please ensure that you confirm the details of your receiving bank account, as well as your personal details via email as soon as you have receive this message.

Yours Sincerely,

Joseph P. Clancy
Director United States Secret Service

Anti-fraud resources: