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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. Michael Kamau" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemai774@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2018 12:10:49 -0800
Subject: Hello Friend Re: Your Payment Instruction

Hello Friend
 
                                             Re: Your Payment Instruction
How are you doing today? Hope you are good,Thank you very much for your high sense of maturity, intelligence, experience and understanding displayed in your last message, although you used the language of total doubt and uncertainty. Well, your approach and your friendly manner gave me the impression and trust/confidence to reply you and let you know the lastest development as regards your abandoned package.
 
But why have kept me silence for this long my Friend? Well, be advised that since I did not hear from you all this while regarding the delivery of your abandoned package, and the Customs are commencing their yearly Routine Check on undelivered/abandoned package next week been the first quarter, so to avoid confiscation or re-direction of your package, I have last today decided to make an arrangement with a security officer to deposited the contents of the package worth (USD10.5Millions) with the Western Online National Bank here in Texas on your name through the help of a Financial Consultant working with the said bank for safe keeping,
 
You are by this letter instructed to open communication with the below named bank with the contact information’s as stated below within the next 48hrs hours on your receipt of this instruction as the bona-fide beneficiary of the said deposited fund for onward transfer into your local bank account
 
Bank Contact Address
Contact Person: Mr. Andrew Scripes (Payment Coordinator)
Western Online National Bank
801 N Texas Ave, Odessa, TX 79761.USA.
Email: info.westernatbank@financier.com
Tel: +1 432 203 2584
 
Be advised to notify me as soon as you have open communication with the named bank for advice and directive for easy and fast transfer of fund into your local bank account.
 
Thank you for the cooperation and understanding, please note that our initial agreement still remain valid upon confirmation of fund.
 
 
Thank You.
 
Michael W. Kamau
Interim Head of Luggage/Baggage
Midland International Airport.
USA

Anti-fraud resources: