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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "foreign exchange" (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- officereplybackmail@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.CHUKWUMA EGOBIA (MR)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officereplybackmail@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:53:56 -0800
Subject: I AM VERY SORRY FOR THE DELAY AND GET BACK.
FEDERAL MINISTERY OF FINANCE FOREIGN
EXCHANGE CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
23/36 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, GARIKI-ABUJA
TELL:+234-702327946
FAX:+234-8057782046
E-MAIL: officereplybackmail@yahoo.co.jp
ATT: FUND BENEFICIARY,
I ADVICE YOU CALL BACK IMMEDIATELY.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
I WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM BACK TO THE OFFICE AFTER MY MOTOR ACCIDENT
AND I AM VERY SORRY FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE PASSED THROUGH FOR NOT GETTING
YOUR FUND SINCE ALL THIS AND I GIVE YOU MY WORD OF ASSURANCE THROUGH THE
STRENGTH OF GOD ALMIGHTY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR FUND IS BEEN TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT.
SO MY DEAR BENEFICIARY I WILL HELP YOU %100 AT THIS POINT TO GET YOUR FUND
TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
SO, IF YOU ARE STILL WILLING TO GET THIS FUND KINDLY WRITE ME BACK AND I
WILL WORK TOWARDS THIS AND NOTHING WILL DEPRIVE YOU OF GETTING YOUR FUND
BECAUSE ALL ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST, ONCE AGAIN AND
LISTEN FOR THE SERVICE THAT I WILL RENDER AT THIS POINT, AS YOU MAY KNOW THAT
I WILL SPEND MY TIME, MONEY AND MANY OTHER THING TO GET THIS DONE WITHOUT
ANY FURTHER DELAY AND YOU MUST HAVE A COMPENSATION % TO ME.
SO GET BACK URGENTLY AS I WAIT FOR YOUR URGENT RESOUNDS AND YOU WILL NEVER
REGRET THIS.
SO YOU ARE TO GET BACK IN RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL FOR AN UPDATE.
WE AWAIT YOUR SWIFT COMPLIANCE
DR.CHUKWUMA EGOBIA (MR)
CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTIES.
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Anti-fraud resources:
