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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- dickola4@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ahmed Bida" <abbidahmed@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ahmed_bida@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:08:44 +0800 (PHT)
Subject: YOUR CO-OPERATION IS NEEDED
Dear Sir / Madam,
Pardon me to write you through this medium, is just the urgency of the
matter concern that propelled me to reach you this way.
I am Ahmed Bida and It is my pleasure to write this mail to you on behalf
of my Boss who is a Director basically to seek your consent on this
transaction which involves transfer of an over-invoiced sum from a turn
around maintenance contract from three of our refining subsidiary of
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to your bank account. The amount
involved is United States $ 5.5 Million Dollars .
This amount was intentionally over-invoiced for our benefit based on our
position. We have worked carefully to secure the approval of the fund
since the original contract value has been paid on completion of the
contract in 2004. Then the remaining balance of the US$ 5.5 million is
what we intend to transfer secretly to you using your bank account
details. Our sharing modalities will be discussed as soon as you indicate
your willingness to work with us privately. Contact me privately on email
;- (dickola4@yahoo.co.jp)
My Regards
Ahmed Bida
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Anti-fraud resources:
