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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.GERALD FREEMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <geraldfreeman17@accountant.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2016 02:00:50 +0100
Subject: RE:GOOD NEWS REPLY URGENTLY

 
Good Day Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the United Nations in conjunction with the World Bank has agreed to compensate foreign contractors and beneficiaries that have not received their funds as a result of change in Government policies.You are being contacted because your email address was on the list submitted by our monitoring team as one of such beneficiaries and the sum of US$28.5 Million has been made available for immediate release to you.
 
In other to ensure that there are no delays in the release of the funds to you,kindly provide the
below information to enable us process andrelease your funds to you without any delay.
 
1) Full Name:
2) Full Address;
3) Your contact telephone and fax number;
4) Your Age and Profession;
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification;
6) Your Bank name;
7) Your Bank Address;
8) Account name and Number;
9) ABA/Routing Number;
10) Swift or Sort Code/IBAN;
You have to stop further communication with any other persons or offices to avoid hitches and delay in receiving your payment. All communication henceforth should be with this office this office alone has been given the authority to release your funds to you.
 
Kind Regards
Gerald Freeman
Contact Mobile:+1(562)666-2055
 

Anti-fraud resources: