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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: CITIBANK <mrjohngarry101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jongarry101@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 13 May 2020 18:06:37 -0700
Subject: RE: TO YOUR ATTENTION!!!

CITIBANK OF AMERICA.
100 CITIBANK DRIVE, SAN ANTONIO,
TX 78245 USA.

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY,

TWO GENTLEMEN CAME TO THIS BANK THIS MORNING CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN CLAIMING YOUR COMPENSATION FUND OF US$5M.
(FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS).

THOUGH THEY HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED SOME DOCUMENTS AND AN ACCOUNT
INFORMATION WHERE THEY CONFIRMED YOU WANT YOUR FUND OF US$5M.
TRANSFERRED, BUT WE HAVE DECIDED GOING BY BANKING ETHICS AND
REGULATIONS TO INFORM YOU FIRST BEFORE WE GO AHEAD TO PROCESS THIS
TRANSFER SO AS TO AVOID ANY BREACH OF THE LAW. TO THAT EXTENT, WE WILL
BE CONCLUDING ON THIS INVESTIGATION WITHIN 3 BANK WORKING DAYS.

HENCE, THE URGENT NEED FOR YOU TO ACT FAST ON THIS CRUCIAL MATTER BY
GETTING BACK TO US BEFORE THE END OF THE MANDATED 3 WORKING DAYS.

DO COMMUNICATE WITH US FASTER.

MR. JOHN GARRY.
REMITTANCE DEPT.
CITIBANK OF AMERICA.

Anti-fraud resources: