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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 us 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.
- chinedunaka@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Caroline" <rev.flaure2morgan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: carolinfreundbem1@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2015 13:50:05 +0100
Subject: Good day dear!
Good Morning to you.
We are writing to inform you that the New President of Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari just opened your case file and is surprised
that you are yet to be paid as such he has ordered the immediate
payment of your long over due $15.5 million us dollars to you by an
ATM CARD without any further delay.
For the safe chinedunaka@yahoo.com livery of your ATM CARD we need you
to please furnish us with the following immediately you receive this
e-mail now.
Your Full Names (That will be Engraved on your Card)
Your Address where you live now (So that your card is handed over to
you Correctly)
Your Passport or Drivers License (For Proper Identification before
hand over of your card to you)
Your working Mobile Telephone Line(s) ( So that you will be called
upon the arrival of the delivery personnel)
Please furnish us with the above details immediately you receive this
e-mail now so that we can commence the delivery of your card to you
safely.
Yours Sincerely,
John Fred
Secretary To The Govt Of The Federation (SGF)
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Anti-fraud resources:
