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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: "Richard Cohen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardcohen@localnet.com>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 00:28:23 -0700
Subject: UNITED NATIONS/PAYMENT NOTIFICATION zl79rh

UNITED NATIONS, WORLD BANK / IMF
 
Dear Sir
 
PAYMENT OF $5,000,000USD
 
It has come to the notices of the United States Government and this Committee on Appropriation and Foreign Debt Payment recovering on behalf of the United States Government  under the order of his excellency President Barrack Obama, Alexandra Mary Of the United Nations,  have unanimously decided to plead for your forgiveness and for you to revert your distrust on people and the United States Government. All efforts are being put in place to chastise all our corrupt government officials that projected, represented and tarnished the image of United States before the entire World Community.
 
This is in a bid to uphold and maintain the United States Government international reputation with the United Nation, O.A.U, World Bank, I.M.F,and Paris Club respectively.   In this regard,This Committee has reached a consensus to offset your outstanding payment sum of $5,000,000USD .  We shall be glad if you will cooperate immediately with us to enable us finalize the transfer of your payment into your bank account.
 
This committee has been solemly empowered and authorized to offset all outstanding  payment exclusively for and on behalf of the United States Government  Note that any correspondence or transaction carried out with any other person(s)/institution except this committee  is done at your own risk and thus, we stand no chance to accept or condone any complain of misfortune that might arise or cause you in such contact.
 
Respond back to us to confirm receipt. Also forward to us your means of Identification, thereafter we shall Direct you further on this payment excise.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Richard Cohen,
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE

Anti-fraud resources: