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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:
- "account opening" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- "account opening form" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "SENATOR UCHE PETER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <senatoruchepeter@live.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:08:45 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
Attn Beneficiary
I am Senator. Uche Peter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Please be informed that your attention is required to clarify an issue to enable us act in your favor. Among the files before the office of the senate is that of Engr. Edward Clerkson, from our investigation the mentioned fellow died two years ago, he lived and worked in Nigeria until his death occurred. Also, I am able to reach you through your email which he provided as the contact information of his next of kin in the account opening form in one of the affiliated banks of 2007.
I am not suppose to make this contact to you. In the first place I don’t know where you are whether you in Nigeria or not. But, as a Christian I feel I should contact and let you
Know so that you could file formal application to the office in charge. The account kept a balance of US$12,4million.(twelve million dollars) The government is about to compensate the owners/heirs of the found accounts, especially foreigners that will not let the fruit of this man go in vain.
Thanks
Regard
Senator Uche Peter
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Anti-fraud resources:
