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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: FBI Washington DC <liana@spectrumworldwide.com.sg>
Reply-To: <markagbai@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2019 22:14:15 -0800
Subject: Re: NOTIFICATION FROM FBI, WASHINGTON DC!!

FBI- Criminal Justice Information Services Division-Federal Government Office.
Address: 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20535, United States.
Text Phone: +1 (202)-844-7427.

NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/JUNK folder, that is because of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service Provider, treat it genuinely.

Season Greetings to you!
I 'm contacting you by your email however; I feel it's best and more convenient to explain why am contacting you. I am Mr. Smith Madsen from the United States new appointed FBI fraud investigator. I work with the Fraud Unit of Criminal Investigation Division (CID). I specialize in background investigation on funds which includes [COMPENSATION/INHERITANCE FUNDS OR NEXT OF KIN, Consignment Box, Lotto® JACKPOT, LOANS] and noticed that you have been receiving numerous emails from people claiming to have funds in your name. I advise that if you're still in communication with any of them concerning funds of any kind, you are hereby advised to stop every communication right now because those persons have been investigated and confirmed to be Fraud/Scam. Also, you're now monitored through the cyber server.

I wish to announce our successful investigation which was carried out few days ago. I guess it will interest you to know why this investigation was conducted.
For your information, it was truly confirmed that you have 100% legitimate unpaid transaction and you have every right to claim this fund as you're being confirmed to be the right beneficiary of the said amount $8.5 Million USD COMPENSATION/INHERITANCE FUND. Moreover, your Scam Victim Compensation fund of $8.5 Million USD have been approved for payment by the office of the Presidency, Washington DC.

This notification is getting to you because the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that you are not communicating with the legitimate office/persons in charge of getting this transaction complete. This announcement has to be made open to you however because you may have been swindled by those unscrupulous people whom you have sent money in the course of getting the fund and transaction complete which is and will never be real. For this reason, the Federal Bureau of Investigation have decided to help you get your fund direct from the US Treasury Department (Treasury Building 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue) here in Washington DC, United States since your legitimate fund remains unpaid.

On behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I want to know if you're interested in accepting/receiving your compensation unpaid legitimate fund value $8.5 Million USD. You will have to follow every instructions mapped by the office for effective receipt of your unpaid fund and it release from the Treasury Department.
All I need is your cooperation and understanding.
Urgently respond soon with your details.

Yours Faithful
Mr. Smith Madsen.
SMS Text only: +1 (202)-844-7427.
FBI Special Investigator.

Anti-fraud resources: