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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: "MR JOHN MILLER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aaab2881@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:41:58 +0200
Subject: Your FUNDS.14/08

FROM:Mr John Miller
DIRECTOR PAYMENT RECONCILIATION DEPT HOMELAND SECURITY
Financial Services Regulation Committee
 
RE: 2015 PART-PAYMENT RELIEF GRANT TO ALL CONCERNED FOREIGN BENEFICIARY
 
Attention!!!
 
This Notice is brought to you from the HOMELAND SECURITY and Payment Bureau, this Bureau was set up by the World Bank and HOMELAND SECURITY to discover all outstanding payment being owned to scammed Individuals all over the world through Inheritance and unclaimed Lottery payment.Based on our investigation of your payment, a man with the name (Dustin C. Meyers)Came to Our Office with an Application Stating That he is your uncle and You Gave him the Power Of Attorney to Be the Beneficiary of Your Outstanding Contract Award Funds. He Made Us To Believe That You Are Dead And That he Is Your Next Of Kin.
 
We Got Your Email Address And Decided To Send An Email Through This Address Hoping To Find Out If You Are Dead Or Alive And Also To Find Out If You At Any Time Gave This man The Power Of Attorney To Receive Your fund Or Represent You Please Let Us Know Also If You Are Aware That We Are Almost Ready To Deliver the Payment Of $ 2.5M Of Your Outstanding Awards Funds
 
You are advised to urgently confirm to this office with the information as requested below so that we will be able to process the final release of your fund to you accordingly to avoid false claim.
 
Your Full Names:
Your Home Address:
Your Home Telephone:
Your Mobile Phone:
Your Age and Sex:
Occupation:
Any Form of identification:
Your Alternative E-mail Address:
 
We look forward to your urgent confirmation.
Yours faithfully,
 
FROM: John Miller
Email: mrjohnmiller1@gmail.com
Phone:(301) 678-9083
DIRECTOR PAYMENT RECONCILIATION DEPT HOMELAND SECURITY
Financial Services Regulation Committee

Anti-fraud resources: