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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:
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi <test@shyouth.net>
Reply-To: <telexpayment01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:58:17 +0100
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT
Attn: Beneficiary,
Your name appears in my file two days ago . Through FMS office that you are among people approved to be paid half payment of $5.5 million dollars, signed by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. GoodLuck Jonathan for the Death of The President Mr. Musa Yaradua who died on the 5th of May 2010.
I need your below information, to confirm with the one we have already here in our file, if you are the rightful owner to be paid.
Your Full Name and Address
Full bank details with bank address
Your Direct Contact telephone number
Age and Occupation, Position in the Company
Copy of Your International Passport or Driver's license.
Kindly call me on my direct telephone number for more clarification
Thanks in anticipation of your prompt response
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Executive Governor CBN
Tel: 234-8074558757
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Anti-fraud resources:
