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 Compensation Unit" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.unted@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:01:00 +0100
Subject: Congratulations Beneficiary

The United Nations Headquarters
United Nations Compensation Unit
In Affiliation with World Bank
Our Ref: U.N/WBO/042UK/2016
New York
Congratulations Beneficiary
[1]United Nation goal to eradicate global poverty before 2030.
[2]Financial support to individuals,family and organization with bright purpose to fund their project.
[3]World/community development.
[4]Your email was submitted by the all world email providers and was chosen by ballot.
[5]The beneficiary will sponsor the claim charge of their Atm Card.
We have been having a meeting for the past 7 months which just ended few days ago with the secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world and families,individuals,organizations that needs financial support, the UNITED NATIONS in Affiliation with  WORLD BANK have agreed to compensate them with the sum of USD$5 Million Dollars.
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc. We found your name in the list of those who are to benefit from these compensation exercise and that is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed. You are advised to contact Rev Ted Moore of our paying center in Africa, as he is our representative in Nigeria, contact him immediately for  your Atm Card  of USD$5 Million Dollars.
 
This fund is in form of a Atm Card for security purpose ok? So he will send it to you and you can Withdraw  it in any bank of your choice. Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number your correct mailing address where you want him to send the Atm Card to you. Contact Rev Ted Moore of UNITED NATION PAYMENT CENTER with your payment Code:ST/DPI/829 immediately for your Atm Card at the given address below:
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: Rev Ted Moore
E-MAIL:revtedmoore.un@live.com
 
I apologize on behalf of my organization for any delay you might have encountered in receiving your fund in the past. Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Atm Card. Making the world a better place. You are required to contact the above person and furnish him with the following of your information that will be required to avoid any mistakes:-
1. Your Full name:
2. Your Country:
3. Contact Address:
4. Telephone Number:
5. Fax Number:
6. Marital Status:
7. Occupation:
8. Sex:
9. Age:
10.Home Equity{YES OR NO}:             
 
Congratulations, and I look forward to hear from you as soon as you confirm your payment making the world a better place.
Regards,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
http://www.un.org/sg/

Anti-fraud resources: