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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: "Mr.Fidelis Abuah" <mrfidelisabuah1956@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 16:29:27 +0200
Subject: Hello my good friend,
Hello my good friend,
I have deposited the cheque waith AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BENIN on care of
Mr.Steve Dickson as we discussed. Please E-mail him immediately to send you
the cheque.I am in Columbia now. I kept the sum of US$1,800,000.00 (ONE
MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) cashier cheque, and i
will send you the rest of the money after my business trip here. I tried
calling your phone but your number is not going so i decided to send you
this E-mail. So E-mail Mr. Steve Dickson your personal information and where
you want the cheque to be delivered to,with below email for him to send the
cheque to you: here is his E-mail:(africandevelopmentbb@qatar.io) or you
call him with this number +22998114996.
Thanks and do let me know when you receive it.
Best Regard.
Mr.Fidelis Abuah.
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Anti-fraud resources:
