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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: Treasury Department <treasuryd152@gmail.com>
Reply-To: treasury.dept42@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 11 May 2022 01:21:58 -0700
Subject: Your unclaimed fund


Attn,

I am contacting you today to inform you that a $5,500,000.00 US unclaimed
fund that was registered with your name as the beneficiary and sole trustee
was intercepted by some bank officials in Africa/Europe, who tried to
divert your unclaimed fund to a bank in Paris, France.

After complete investigation and negotiation with all authorities
concerned, we decided to keep your $5,500,000.00 US with the United States
Treasury department through USA Fedwire, for final release to you as the
beneficiary and sole trustee.

Payment can be made to you either through bank transfer or cash deposit
into your bank account. Reply back immediately to enable us to link you up
with the Treasury Secretary and Fedwire Chairman, for the final release of
your unclaimed fund to your bank account this week.

Yours Sincerely,

Jürgen Stock
Secretary-General of Interpol
INTERPOL General Secretariat
200, quai Charles de Gaulle
69006 Lyon
France

Anti-fraud resources: