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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "executive governor" (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: "Chief James Ibori" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tom.green515@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:35:36 +0100
Subject: From Chief James Ibori
Dear ,
I am Chief James Ibori, the former Executive Governor of Delta State of Nigeria.
Without much ado I have to go straight to the point of my having to contact you. Right now I am undergoing a serious probe from the present President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for misappropriation of funds.. I hereby confidentially inform you that I have the sum of $200,000.000.00 (Two Hundred Million USD) that I want to move into the safe custody of a foreign partner who will invest it for me and for your participation I will give you 40% of the total sum when you receive the funds. Kindly go to this page for more informations regarding this matter, http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-100187.0.html
I can get this fund to you through any means of your choice be it through wire transfer or I can package and pass it through the diplomat channel,this medium was formerly reserved for Ambassadors of Heads of State and County Chiefs .
Please let me know immediately if you can help me receive and secure this funds and please if by any means you are not interested in this business proposal I implore you to delete this message and never disclose its contents to any third party.
Thank You for your time
His Excellency Chief James Ibori.
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Anti-fraud resources:
