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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
Fraud email example:
From: DEBT SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT <adithokage@ymail.com>
Reply-To: drlamidosanusi@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:21:32 -0700
Subject: Re: SPECIAL DIRECTIVE/VOL16/CBNGAZETTE/XXU10!!
DEBT SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Re: SPECIAL DIRECTIVE/VOL16/CBNGAZETTE/XXU10.
Please be advised that the federal government of Nigeria through the ministry of finance has directed us to revisit all contracts, fiduciaries, inheritance, awarded/executed from 1999 till date and make recommendation for the payment of your fund where necessary. This is in line with what the government termed “Rescheduling of all special debts owed contractors and inheritors”.
You are therefore advised to provide a duly certified sworn affidavit of claim from the verification department of this office to authenticate you as the rightful beneficiary we have on file for payment. We therefore regret any inconvenience you may have been subjected to in the past in the hands of impostors who have through their actions caused huge embarrassment to the government.
For further information on the above please contact us back immediately
Best regards.
Dr. Lamido Sanusi,
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
