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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: "Waheed Ahmed. Umar." <shortman197@gmail.com>
Reply-To: waheed2221@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:37:15 +0100
Subject: Your Attention Sir/Ma!!

--
>From the Desk of: Mr. Owen Brown
Wire Transfer Manager.

Dear Sir,

Re: Release of Approved Fund.

We write to notify you that we received payment advise in your favour
from the Office of the new Nigeria Central Bank, Dr. Godwin Emefiele
to credit your account with your payment. We have been mandated to now
pay you hence we have commenced processing of the transaction and
shall release fund to your nominated account as soon as you reconfirm
your full personal details and the transaction will be concluded in
your favour.

Accordingly, you are required to send your valid bank account details
which must be traced to you to ensure we do not make payment to a
wrong person. Note, fund payment is now by wire transfer only. You
should also as a matter of urgency, confirm the amount due in your
favour and send copy of your identification (Int'l Passport or
Driver's License) to enable us confirm you are truly whom we were
instructed to pay.

Finally, we shall proceed further with your fund transfer once
requested items are received. The fund transfer slip will be sent to
you along with other transaction documents as soon as possible hence
we advise you hasten up this process.

Please, ignore any other email or telephone call in respect of your
fund as this email/office supercede others. Any email received should
be forwarded to my office for advise.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Owen Brown
Wire Transfer Manager.

cc: The CBN Governor - Blue Copy
Fund Verification Officer - Red Copy
Beneficiary - Green Copy

Anti-fraud resources: