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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. A. L Yaradua" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alyaraduafile@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2010 14:16:04 -0700
Subject: Re: Your Payment Have Been Concluded
Dear Customer,
This is to inform you that we have concluded arrangement for your payment to be carried out by the Citibank group Nigeria Office.
Citibank Nigeria Limited
27 Kofo Abayomi Street
Victoria Island, Lagos,
Nigeria
Citibank info for you attention: http://www.citigroup.com/citi/global/nga.htm
They have world class services because they are affiliated to the Citigroup worldwide and will be able to arrange a hitch free payment
transferring of your funds. Be informed that your immediate reply to this letter is needed as a confirmation to this arrangement as the Federal Ministry of Finance will not be held responsible for any wrong crediting of fund.
Note that as a result of world financial crises, the Federal Government of Nigeria will not be able to pay your total amount immediately, we therefore appealing that you receive part payment now. The balance fund will be facilitate and paid to you precisely at the second quarter of this year.
I will be waiting for your urgent reply to enable Federal Ministry of Finance Issue your Foreign Exchange allocation.
Respond to this message via email address: drbrighokogu_ministryoffinance@live.com
Dr. A. L Yaradua
Director General, Federal Ministry Of Finance
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Anti-fraud resources:
