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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Payment Department" <jbokon@sify.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jbokon1@sify.com
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:22:52 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Approved Payment of US$9.2 Million
Attn: Beneficiary,
This is to draw your attention that your fund of US$9.2Million is lying in
suspense account with the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. The Federal Government
of Nigerian has authorized us to effect every outstanding payment
immediately based on the new Government instruction. The only problem now
is that we dictated a lot of irregularities associated with your transfer
and we will appreciate it if you answer the following questions.
(1) Did you at any time delegate any body not even from your
family to claim your fund on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in a motor accident?
(3) Are you aware or related to one Mr. Bruce Allen?
Please reconfirm and answer the above questions because Mr. Bruce Allen
came to our foreign payment department and submitted an application that
you authorized your fund to be paid into the account of NATWEST BANK
LONDON with Account number NAT-A943BDG99 with a report that you are now
paralyzed as a result of the ghastly motor accident you had some months back.
After processing the application of Mr. Bruce Allen himself which he made
known to us that he came from you, he succeeded in getting some required
documents as to make sure that we effect this transfer as quickly as
possible without any further delay.
The delay in transferring the funds is due to the request for a power of
attorney authorizing him to pursue this payment on your behalf. He asked
for a week so as to submit the document, but up till now we have not
received any of the documents from any of you. Why?
If Mr. Bruce Allen is not from you, do reconfirm to us the followings to
enable us effect the US$9.2M directly to your nominated bank account via
swift transfer.
1. Your full name and address
2. Your age and profession
3. Your phone and fax numbers
4. Your full banking details(where you will like to receive the money)
Anticipating your prompt response.
Best Regards,
Rev. J.B. Okon
Pay master,
Central Bank of Nigeria.
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