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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Dora Nkem Akunyili" <msshunda26@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: mrsdorankemakunyili@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 04:55:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mrs.Dora Nkem Akunyili.
Minister of Information,
Address Radio House, Herbert Macaulay Way (South),
Area 10, Garki - Abuja, Abuja.
After an emergency meeting with the president this morning to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria on Friday the 1st of October 2010, a plea of pardon and lenience was made on your behalf by the presidency to make sure that your $15.5 million us dollars is paid to you without any further delay.
His plea on your behalf is that all fee should be reduced to the minimal of $75 only.
To this effect he has mandated with immediate effect that all fee and charges required of you to make claim to your due owed fund worth $15.5 million be reduced to the sum of $75 only and must be paid by you.
As such we are passing this noble gesture to you to inform and advise you to go and pay this fee immediately via western union or money gram to the details below.
Receivers name: Chukwu Tony
Receivers Address: Lagos / Nigeria
Text Question: Celebrate
Text Answer: Nigeria
Amount: $75 only
Senders Name:
Senders Address:
M.T.C.N Number:
We wait to receive the payment details so that your payment is released to you without any further delay.
You are very luck to be counted among the luck once to be paid your due owed fund.
Mrs.Dora Nkem Akunyili.(OFR)
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