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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: "Frank Maha" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankmaha22@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 May 2017 17:51:38 -0700
Subject: Let Frank Know



Hello,

It is my pleasure to inform you that your name appeared in the list of beneficiaries this quarter not yet paid their approved inheritance fund by the Verification Bureau of the Ministry of Finance Cotonou, Benin Republic. Your fund has been approved for payment via certified bank check.


A certified bank check of Two Million Dollars has been issued in your favor payable via JP Morgan Chase Bank New York USA.


You are requested to contact MR. FRANK MAHA the Director of Foreign Operations Ministry of Finance Benin Republic with below information to enable him forward your certified bank check to you as soon as possible.

MR. FRANK MAHA
EMAIL: frankmaha22@gmail.com
Your payment reference code Number IS MTM/PTF/0041/17

You can send to him your full name, home address, telephone number and your payment reference code.

Do contact him now to avoid any further delay in your check delivery.

Regards,

JODY MARK
VERIFICATION BUREAU
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources: