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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "abuja" (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: "Angela Whyte" <extmny2@yahoo.com.ph> (may be fake)
Reply-To: hxmnyd@superposta.com
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 17:57:09 -0400
Subject: REFUND !!
>From the Desk of
Mrs. Angela Whyte.
Head Anti Graft Agency
Plot 352 Ajose Close
Abuja Nigeria.
Atten: Beneficiary,
This is to officially inform you that we have received an irrevocable
payment instruction from the office of the presidency to refund monies
lost by internet scam victims of which you are one of them. The
presidential approval by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who has approved the
sum of One Million United States Dollars for all internet scam victims.
The approval came following the World Bank and International Monitoring
Funds pressure as regards the report of Amnesty International concerning
the most corrupt nations. Your contact was found during the search of the
anti graft commission at the residency of one of the scamers and he is
right now in the jail and once you have responded we will send you his
pictures in due course as he is right now languishing in the prison.
At this point i will advise you to stop every payment to whoever
contacting you again because your fund has been approved by automatic
presidential waiver directly from the office of the presidency, You are
therefore and also you are required to forward to us the names and
telephone numbers of other scammers. Also forward your full Names,
Address, Telephone Numbers Copy of identification (if available) The total
amount of money lost and if possible too copy of the payment receipts that
you used in remitting the funds. For us to be sure that you are not making
a bogus claim.
Henceforth, you should contact this office for further clarifications Call
me on my direct phone number below once you receive this email for more
details and directives.
Mrs. Angela Whyte.
Head Anti Graft Agency
Plot 352 Ajose Close
Abuja Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
