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: "From the desk of Ms Heidi Lioce Mendoza" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brandallsy66@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:10:58 -0700
Subject: Are you Dead or Alive?

From the desk of Ms Heidi Lioce Mendoza
UN OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES/
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
Internal Audit, Monitoring,
Consulting and Investigations Division.
 
To: Unpaid Beneficiary,
 
I have a proposal about your compensation funds as this is to officially inform you that all ATM Card, Inheritance and check have been credited and transferred to Mr Brian from the (UN)United Nation..
Finally, Are you Dead or Alive? If you are still alive, you are required to immediately respond to this email, so that we can confirm your not deceased and also alive and healthy to receive your compensation funds. Contact the agent in charge now, Mr Brian Randall {brandallsy66@gmail.com}
 
From the desk of Ms Heidi Lioce Mendoza
United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Internal Oversight

Anti-fraud resources: