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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. Johnson Brown" <"www."@viola.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Johnson Brown" <western_82@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2017 20:45:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention:

Send Money Worldwide
FROM THE DESK OF MR.JOHNSON BROWN
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE   +229 9606 3688
 
Attention:
 
We are here to inform you that this honorable money gram office are here to send you your payment of $4.5 million dollars, you will be receiving $10,000 dollars daily in two payment until you finish receiving all your fund, And in the light of above, I am here to notify you that your first payment of $5,000 dollars has been sent to you this morning and here is the reference number to pick it up in any money gram argent around you.

Sender name … Mike Ambros
Reference … 94575379
Amount … $5,000.00
Country … USA

Note: the entire necessary fee requested by this money gram Headquarter has been paid this morning by the manager of this money gram and there are (three) Documents as they secure on your behalf which you may even tender to any authority in your country that may ask any question concerning the source of your fund, Meanwhile the only money you are required to send to this money gram office immediately is $86 dollars, to obtain the three documents from Benin high court of justice and call me so that i will send you reference number for the second payment.
 
As it stand now, I advise you to go ahead and send the $86 dollars as quickly as you receive this message to enable this honorable money gram office made successful payment to your address today and also forward a copy of the money gram payment slip to you for confirmation showing that your first payment of $5,000 dollars is there for you to pick it up.
 
Make the payment below to this name but be rest assured that you will receive your payment today, and if we mistakenly fail to do as instructed by Benin government, this money gram branch will be persecuted according to the law.
 
Receivers Name: Julius Nzah
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Question: Honest
Text Answer: Trust
Total Amount: $86 dollars
MTCN:
Sender Name:
Sender Country:
 
I look forward to your urgent and positive response.
 
Yours in service
Mr. Johnson Brown
Finance Minister
Federal Republic of Benin
Money Gram Payments
E-mail ...western_82@yahoo.com

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