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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: "Mrs. Carolyn Childress" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carolynchildress@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 00:07:05 +0100
Subject: RE: FROM : U.S.Customs and Border Protection. ñ

U.S.Customs and Border Protection
Address: Duncan Federal Building, Room 435
710 Locust Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your affirmation and to inform you of the latest development in regards to the delivery of your consignment box convey by Courier Diplomatic agent, During the scanning our cash-track machine detected that the content of the consignment box is cash worth millions of United States Dollars.
in accordance to section 34 and 36 of the Custom sector, It's not acceptable to bring (over US$100,000) into the United States of America without proper documentations and clearance because it shows that the money is either being smuggled into the country or the source of the funds is questionable.
It is very important that all the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source of the funds are provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in accordance with the PATRIOT ACT so that IRS and Homeland Security will not knocking at your door, In lieu of the above, it is therefore mandatory that you shall provide the Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) to prove that the funds is not links with any form of illegality.
Being the beneficiary of the consignment, the Origin of Funds Certificate (O.O.F) is the only way of confirming the source of the funds and it is your responsibility to provide the Certificate before the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of your consignment box to your house.
The Diplomat's Flight Details and relevant documentshows that he came from Africa and we have contacted the relevant Authorities inAfricato enquirer about the process of getting the Certificate, We were informed that the beneficiary of the consignment will pay for the Certificate and the cost of this documentation is $196.00 usd and You are to pay the fee directly to theMississippi Custom and Border Protection via Western Union OR Money Gram Money Transfer in the name stated below so that your delivery will be successful done within 48hours without any hitch or delay.
The payment should send via Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer to here in United States of America.
Receivers Name: Carolyn Childress
City/State:    Mississippi
Country:United States of America
Text Question: Urgent
Text Answer: Need
Amount: $196
After paying the Fee, send the following payment information
1. Sender's Name and Address
2. MTCN Number
3. Text Question & Answer
Owner package Phone No.
Upon the receipt of the payment information, the Certificate will procure in your name by theMississippi USAAuthority so that the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of your consignment to your house today.
Yours Faithfully.
Mrs. Carolyn Childress
A G Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
 

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