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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:
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",000,000" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- patwillie@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERPOL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patwillie@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2017 21:16:43 +0300
Subject: NOTICE OF PAYMENT
Attn: Beneficiary.
The International Police in Conjunction wish to bring to your notice that A lady by name of Mrs. Joan C. Bailey from OHIO U.S.A presented an official power of attorney and some other documentation to the Central Bank of Nigeria, stating that you have instructed her to claim your contractual inheritance sum of $8,000,000.00 Eight million U.S Dollars on your behalf due to your ill health.
You are advised to indicate your position towards the application the lady submitted on your behalf by contacting the office of Central Bank of Nigeria in person of Mr. Patrick Osas with your personal contact details such as.
FULL NAMES:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
CURRENT CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
COUNTRY:
DATE OF BIRTH:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY CARD:
NOTE:
In your best interest you should ignore any further e-mails that are not from the above email address for security reasons in case you are already dealing with anybody from the Central Bank of Nigeria. You are advised to STOP further communication with them in your own very best interest. You are advised to contact your appointed claims officer from the office of Central Bank of Nigeria C.B.N through email with the below information as follow:
Contact Person: Mr.Patrick Williams
Contact Email: patwillie@yahoo.com
Thank you very much for your Anticipated Co-operation in advance as we await your response to this matter.
Best Regards.
Mr. MENG Hongwei
INTERNATIONAL POLICE
LYON, FRANCE
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Anti-fraud resources:
