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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:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (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.
- 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.
- justicec.oputa@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas" <ecowas_subregion@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:57:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Final notice! Final notice!! Final notice!!!
Dear Beneficiary,
Inline with the milieu of Africa Fund impoundment rules and regulation we were formally informed this morning our time by government of Federal Republic of Nigeria that you have willingly abandoned your overdue payment as result of your inability to fulfill your financial obligation.
In respective of the above report, it is very relevant to allow you know that you have grace of 48hours only as immediately after the valued hours we will formally inform International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the due procedure and any of your correspondence after that will be invalid as we will advice Justice C. Oputa to cancel your payment file.
Be informed that as soon as Justice C. Oputa cancels your payment file and he formally advice CBN to delete your information in their payment database which you will be automatically and completely unrecognized.
Important notice, after tomorrows do not send penny or cent or dime to anybody regarding this very payment as all is scam as you will not receive penny or cent or dime considering that we allow Federal Republic of Nigeria to take legal action against your fund.
Nb. the only remedy is for you to contact Justice C. Oputa via e-mail: justicec.oputa@yahoo.com and pay the outstanding immediately or harmonized issues with him.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Mohamed IBN Chambas
ECOWAS President
Head of States and governments of ECOWAS
101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent , Asokoro District
PMB. 401 Abuja Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
