|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "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: "Mr. Morris Joseph" <paul.jenkins2@virgin.net>
Reply-To: mrmorisjo@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:57:18 +0100
Subject: RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE YOUR COMPENSATION PAYMENT
NIGERIAN FOREIGN PAYMENT INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
ANTI-FRAUD DEPARTMENT
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
ANTI FRAUD DEPARTMENT
(under the auspices of EFCC)
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
Attn:
This notice is to keep you informed that Mr. President/commander
in-chief of armed forces federal republic of Nigeria,during the last
federal executive council meeting inaugurated both bodies ECONOMIC &
FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) in collaboration with the UNITED
NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC).
I was mandated by both bodies to apologize to all those involved in
the scam by Nigerians,and those listed for this exercise and of which
you are among the list of scammed victims.
Note that money valued USD300, 000.00 has been approved in your favor
as compensation following directives of Mr. President and therefore
you are advised to forward the following information below to enable
the Central bank process your fund for payment to you without any form
of interference or delay.
Full Names:
Your Complete Home Address:
Your Tel/Mobile Numbers:
Your Driver's License or International Passport
We will appreciate your immediate response; hence we have 7 working
days to conclude with this exercise.
Best Regards,
Mr. Morris Joseph
For EFCC & UN
|
Anti-fraud resources: