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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:
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr. David Ike <wnxx@cnecutool.net>
Reply-To: drdavidike@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:39:21 +0800
Subject: Urgent/Confidential
From: David Ike
Central Bank of Nigeria
Assistant Manager
Foreign Payment Section
Tel: 234 803 529 0705
Good Day,
Urgent/Confidential
This is very urgent. I have seen why you have not been paid.
You made the mistake by giving them money at first and they will keep demanding money from you on the pretext of one documents or the other.
You know how this business started and that is the way it will end.
Please do not call me on the bank telephone line except this number i have given to you above.
if we start, it will last for 5 bank working days but make sure you will pull out the funds as soon as it hits your account.
This is the only way out, so let us do it without their knowing and I will resign as soon as you confirm the funds and run away.
Get back to me let us discuss.
David Ike
Central Bank of Nigeria
Assistant Manager
Foreign Payment Section
Tel: 234 803 529 0705
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Anti-fraud resources:
