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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: "From World Bank Switzerland." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pj4396504@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2017 20:54:43 -0800
Subject: Urgent From World Bank Switzerland.

From World Bank Switzerland,
No 1 Postfach CH 4002 Basel Switzerland .
                                                                                  
                                                        RE:TRANSFER OF $5.5 MILLION
 
Attention: Beneficiary,
I am instructed to keep you posted on the out come of  our emergency meeting with the World Bank president, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, international monetary fund (IMF), London and Paris club and (UN) I hereby inform you that your winnings/inheritance payment file have been Signed and forwarded to the Eco Bank Benin Republic  and I am giving you the contact of your Payment Officer in Eco Bank of Benin Republic who is in charge of your fund.
Make sure you contact him with below details because he will help you get your fund which was deposited in an Escrow Account.
Name: Mr.Phillip Jones
Email:  phillipjones401@gmail.com
 
Make sure you contact Phillip Jones with your full name,address,age,your next of kin mobile phone number with a copy of your valid id. he is the person in charge of the transfer of your fund.
Upon your final transferring of your fund and confirmation in your account don't fail to keep me posted.
 
Congratulation and i await to hear from you.
Mrs.Theresa Stephen
World Bank International Auditor.
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: