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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:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348052985224 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- iccv_undiplomatic_s01_nig@hotmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Vernica .S. Morgan" <info@abujanationallottery.org.ng>
Reply-To: "UN Diplomatic" <iccv_undiplomatic_s01_nig@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:56:56 -0800
Subject: Dear Lucky Winner!!!
Dear Lucky Winner!!!
This is to announce to you that out of the millions of email
that was extracted online from some of the online database,
10 emails was selected as lucky winners in the on going Abuja
National Lottery Promotions and your email was among the 10
lucky winners.
You are entitle to a cash prize of $100,000.00 US Dollars, the
courier charges has been paid by the Lottery Board and your
winnings has been deposited in the UN Diplomatic Security to
Nigeria, it is safer there for you to easy claim. Do not be
deceive by anyone the courier charges has been paid by the
Lottery Board.
All you have to do now is to contact the Director "UN Diplomatic
Security" to the Republic of Nigeria for the claims of your
winning cheque. However, please note that you have the Prize
Secuirty Keeping Fees to pay to the "UN Diplomatic Security"
before they can release your winning cheque to FedEx Courier
to deliver it to you.
To redeem your winning prize cheque of $100,000.00 US Dollars,
contact the Director "UN Diplomatic Security" to the Republic
of Nigeria.
Director's Name: Dr. Tony Oboh,
E-mail: iccv_undiplomatic_s01_nig@hotmail.com
Tel: +(234)805-298-5224.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Vernica .S. Morgan,
The Lottery Online Coordinator.
http://app.streamsend.com/private/5irA/muz/unsubscribe/321732
Anti-fraud resources:
