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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: info@fundrelease.org
Reply-To: mariodraghi04@gmail.com
Date: 12 Apr 2017 14:35:04 -0700
Subject: FUND RELEASED ........

Attention: Sir,

I am Mr. Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank, I
am
writing to enlighten you that Economic Policy of the European
Union
does not support transfer of huge amount of money outside any
European
Country without full clearance of the European Central Bank via
my
office.

However, my office has taken over all the money Transactions like
Contract Payments, Fund inheritance, or Lottery Winning
originated
from any part of Africa and European countries due to delay and
corrupt practice of some officials of Apex banks and Security
companies.

Subsequently, Your Name/Email address appears as one of the long
approved fund beneficiaries, whom their fund was successfully
cleared
from Terrorist and Money laundry.

You are therefore advised to dissociate from any way you may have
been
struggling to receive this money no matter your commitment to
avoid
Misinformation and contact this office, I shall personally
disclose
and direct transfer of this fund to you with my office as the
president of European Central Bank.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.

Mr. Mario Draghi
The President.ECB
European Central Bank

Anti-fraud resources: