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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: OFFICIAL FILE <officialfile2015@gmail.com>
Reply-To: OFFICIAL FILE <express_mail.s@post.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:07:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: E-MAIL COURTESY OF EMS.


EMS Express Mail
Service
687 Union Coutres Opp
Ganhi Station,
Cotonou, Benin Rep
 
Dear Customer,
 
We are contacting you today in respect of your ATM
visa card valued at ($7.2M) Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars registered in our abode for the past three months. An agent under
United Nations who registered your card with us for subsequent delivery to your
address told us that sooner or later you will contact us in this regard;
however after waited some days without hearing from you alternative we had to
deposit your card with one of an existing security company vault for safe keeping.
 
Through our recent board meeting it was concluded
we contact you before security keeping fee accumulate much demurrages. Having
said this, please re-confirmation the following; a receiving address, personal
phone number (mobile) and a valid identification proof; international passport
or driver’s license for conformity. You required to pay the sum of 295$
security keeping fee before our diplomat departs Benin Republic to your home.
The shipping fee has been paid by the UN agent.
 
Treat this message with basic official courtesy
which we believe it deserves to enable us dispense our duties and obligation
accordingly thereby allowing us to serve you in a timely fashion.
 
Your swift response is quite appreciated.
 
Yours faithfully,
 



Mr. Tony Mella
EMS director.

Anti-fraud resources: