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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Daniel Eri" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <eriw2904@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2017 00:46:18 -0700
Subject: FROM: Daniel Eri.
Attention Sir,
This e-mail is to acquaint you officially regarding the release of part payment of your contract /inheritance fund totalling $5.5M (Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars only) under the auspices of the Debt Management Office (D.M.O) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It will interest you to know that the acting president of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osibanjo have approved and authorized the immediate release of all outstanding debt approved for release by the last two administration which for some reasons have not been released to the beneficiaries. The Vice President gave the Debt Management Office (DMO) a mandate to produce the list of all beneficiaries both private and cooperate entities for verification before money will be released to them accordingly.
During verification it was discovered that several unsuccessful attempts have been made to divert your money. We discovered also that your classified payment file have been distorted and some virtal information either lost or intentionally replaced to aid the failed attempt to divert your money.
On your reply to this email i will give you further directives on how your money will be released to you.
Thanks for your understanding and patience.
Sincerely,
Mr. Daniel Eri.
Debt Management Office.
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Anti-fraud resources:
