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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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: "EQUITY BANK PLC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harley40513@insightbb.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:38:52 +0100
Subject: CONFIRM THIS MEN PLEASE
The attached picture was taken in my office where i was serving
verification documents to the White men Mr Gabriel Evans and Mr Alan
Mills who stormed my office in company of the Black Gentleman (on white
African attire). the black man claimed to be your representative and
the supervisory Engineer that supervised and certified your money execution
that was shifted from the previous Paying Institute to the EQUITY BANK PLC
They said that you are very sick and that you appointed them as the
next of kin to your fund presently under our custody. These two white men
and the black gentleman quickly applied that your fund should be presented
to them at the spot. The Official responsible for the presentation of
consignment quickly granted approvals to their application and to packaged
the fund for them to go with it .
When the Bank Services Debit Note was submitted to my desk for final
Approvals before forwarding it to them for endorsement,I noticed that
there are discrepancies as there was no evidence of authorisation
letter from you for the change of beneficiary.
I urgently summoned The Official responsible for the presentation of
the consignment and directed him to stop the movement of the funds and at
the same time placed a stop order instruction on the funds pending when
your views and comments are received with regards to this matter.
Please carefully go through the attach file to confirm these people.
Do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this men are
from you.
TERESA BECKLEY
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Anti-fraud resources:
