joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mobolaji .BA." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <turkudide2.0@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 06:36:52 +0100
Subject: VESTED INTEREST.

Dear Beneficiary,
 
The introduction of strict bottlenecks are deliberate approaches to ensure thorough scrutiny of federal disbursements. However, I am offering to render you a preferential service to enable you enjoy a hitch free payment process before I vacate office soon. It's on record that you have been seeking the release of your pending inheritance entitlement from the days of my predecessors. In recent times, Inheritance Claims from this region raises a lot of suspicion since it has become known as a channel through which government functionaries divert looted funds to offshore accounts.
 
'Inheritance Claim' as an old fashioned means of laundering money was aided by poor database management system, until its story became a bait with which Bogus schemes are being perpetrated today. In the light of my yearly study, politicians have been consistence in diverting over $972 Million worth of loots to their foreign cohorts as inheritance entitlements. I have vested interest in your payment and I will be glad to assist if you would appoint me as your partner. I have examined the circumstances that flaws the release of your withheld funds, I can assure you that your approval will be granted if you would exploit my competence which am ready to render.
 
May I persuade you not to forfeit this fund yet, as someone in authority, I am certain that something can still be done and I promise to deliver in one week. With my umpire immunity, I shall revise the declared 'Purpose of Payment' on your Affidavit and influence the immediate approval of your payment. I guaranty that we would execute this venture under a legitimate arrangement without breach of the law. Note that, I won't ask you for an upfront payment, but would earn my commission-pay base on an agreed sharing formula upon the successful completion of this pursuit.
 
I will appreciate your reply If you are interested to know more about my submission, and your role therein.
 
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
 
Best Regards,
M. Bank-Anthony.
Head of Operations, Debt Conversion Dept.
National Bureau of Finance.

Anti-fraud resources: