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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: "Robert Michael" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rbertm68@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2017 13:05:08 +0100
Subject: Your Funds

Date: 4th Feb., 2017
 
Desk of: Mr. Robert Michael
 
Country: United Kingdom
 
Subject: Your Recovered Funds
 
Sir/Madam,
 
Given the report of your fnancial lost to our organization and our huge financial recovery in the year 2016, I have been
 
mandated to contact you for the payment of your funds. Our organization in conjunction with the International Monetary
 
Fund (IMF) and the World Bank recovered $540Million (Five Hundred and Fourty Million United States Dollars) to the
 
Internet abusers in the year 2016.
 
You are advised to urgently send your following details for immediate payment;
 
1. Your full names
2. Your address
3. Your telephone number
 
We shall process your funds and direct our corresponding bank to pay you on receipt of the above information.
 
Anticipating your quick reply.
 
Signed
Mr. RObert Michael
United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources: