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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Federal Payment Office" <dir.debtmanagementoffice@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <debt.paymentoffice@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:25:58 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT
Dear Sir,
I am Charles Adebola The Chairman Debt Settlement Committee of Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have been directed by the Presidency to bring to your notice an urgent attention that there was a meeting held in the Presidency and we understand the huge amount of money you have spent, and all the disappointment you have suffered in the past to get your contract fund paid to you. This committee on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria sincerely apologizes for it.
Due to what we described as selective payment and incessant demand of excessive fees by some unscrupulous and corrupt Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) officials in charge of foreign contract payment in the past. The Federal government under the new administration of Alhaji Umaru Yaradua introduced the DEDUCTION CERTIFICATE, which will empower the nominated paying bank to deduct all taxes/levies from the principal contract sum. This deduction certificate is obtained from the presidency free of charge as no form of payment is attached to it.
You are directed to immediately reconfirm all the contract particulars as well as the banking coordinates where you want your money to be paid into as we are poised to make sure that you get your payment this time. I will advise you to call me as soon as you receive this mail so that I can give you the details of the transfer as we are very serious in this assignment that was mandated by the president.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Charles Adebola
Chairman, Contract Verification Committee
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Anti-fraud resources:
