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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: " MR JAMES OWEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <groupb@live.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2019 16:38:58 -0500
Subject: CLAIM YOUR APPROVE FUND

FROM: MR. JAMES OWEN.
ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
TEAM OF FINANCIAL AUDITORS
UNITED NATIONS FINANCIAL OPERATIONS.
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMMED)
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
OUR REF: WB/NF/UN/XX19
 
ATTN: BENEFICAIRY,
 
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY NOTIFY YOU THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED A PAYMENT INSTRUCTION FROM THE UNITED NATION AND THE WORLD BANK TO PAY YOU YOUR OVERDUE COMPENSATION  FUNDS OF US$6.5 MILLION DOLLARS,WITH THE AUDIT REPORTS IN YOUR PAYMENT FILE , WE NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH LOTS OF HARD TIMES IN BID TO RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS DUE TO NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF SOME IMPOSTORS WHO CLAMS TO BE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND BANKERS WHO CLAIM TO BE IN POSITION OF YOUR FUND AND CONTACTING YOU TO HELP YOU RELEASE YOUR FUND TO YOU WHICH WILL NEVER BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER PERMIT CODE . IN VIEW OF THIS, YOU ARE THEREFORE REQUIRED TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW TO US TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FUND TO YOU DIRECT  BANK TO BANK TRANSFER WITH THE MT103 TELEX CONFIRMATION SLIP.
 
1. YOUR FULL NAME.
2. YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER.
3. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS.
4. YOUR BANKING DETAILS.
5. A SCAN COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY.
 
AS A MATTER OF IMPORTANCE YOUR RESPONSE IS NEEDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE THE BANK KNOW YOUR WILLINGNESS AND READINESS TO CLAIM YOUR FUNDS AND ONCE THEY RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL, THEY ARE GOING TO PROCEED WITHOUT DELAY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I ADVISE YOU AT THIS POINT NEVER TO MISS IT.
 
I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SWIFTLY
 
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR. JAMES OWEN
FOR UNITED NATIONS.

Anti-fraud resources: