joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: United Nations Trust Funds <utrustfunds@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2015 16:48:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Victimized Beneficiary!!


FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278,
United States
Mr. George Venizelos
Assistant Director in Charge JFK New York
01/05/15

Dear Victimized Beneficiary!!

My name is Mr. George Venizelos, of the crime monitoring department of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI in collaboration with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). We have been working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa With the help of United States Government and the United Nations. We have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various parts of west African countries which includes the United Kingdom (UK).

Your information is in our data as a Victim of Scam. These scammers claim to be barristers/bank officials, Lottery Agents and funds owners who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin to receive such funds which do not exist, but all in attempt to scam your money.

We have also recovered some huge funds from these scam artists. However, the United Nations Anti-Crime Commission and the United State Government has Approved that the funds recovered from the Scammers should be shared among 100 Lucky individuals across the world.

This Email is been directed to you because your email address and your name was found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk and his is among those in our custody in Nigeria. Therefore, you will be compensated with $500,000.00 Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only.

Since your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive $500,000.00 each as compensation, your payment have been arranged VIA Swift Card Payment Center issued by Banco Itau (ITAU).

Feel free to contact the Courier Officer on below details;

Courier Officer: Mr Carlos Oliveria
Email: banco_itaubrasil@accountant.com
Phone: +5511948376070

You are advised to contact Mr Carlos Oliveria with your correct delivery address and telephone number, he will inform you on the next thing towards the delivery of your SWIFT CARD. You have to keep me posted as we are here to monitor the process until the CARD is delivered to you safely.

NOTE: You are advised to STOP further communication with whosoever from Africa in regards to any fund.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. George Venizelos
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278,
United States


Anti-fraud resources: