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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "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 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.
- bolaadams@indiatimes.com (India Times, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Bola Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cbnboladams@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:19:04 -0700
Subject: YOUR FUND PAYMENT UPDAT
ATTENTION :SIR/MADAM,
I write to inform and notify you of your overdue fund inheritance / overdue contract payment with the central bank of Nigeria which has be approved by the ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA to be paid to you. . The total amount approved for your payment is the sum of $10.7m (TEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS). This fund will be paid to you through a United Nations appointed diplomat. The diplomat will travel to deliver your fund packaged as a consignment to your home address after all the requirement has been met regarding this fund payment to you ,. The central bank of Nigeria has been mandated to contact you and inform you of their readiness to pay your approved fund to you through the UN diplomatic fund delivery at your home address. To this fact , you are hereby advised to re-confirm your contact details as follows…………
1) YOUR FULL NAME.......
2) HOMEADDRESS....
3) DIRECT PHONE/OFFICE..........
4) AGE/OCCUPATION..........
5) NEAREST AIRPORT............
6)YOUR DRIVING LICENSE..............
As soon as we receive your reconfirmation of your details as above, we will immediately proceed with processing your fund delivery and further details will be communicated to you as regarding your fund delivery payment. Get back to me as soon as you read my mail to enable us proceed.
BEST REGARDS
Mr Bola Adams,
For:Executive Governor CBN.
Email:bolaadams@indiatimes.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
