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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 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. )
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "barr_admas_agba_chambers@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- majorcolerutherford080@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: OCEANIC BANK NIGERIA PLC <rutherfordmajorcole@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:46:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: ESTATE ACCOUNT OF LATE GEORGE BRUMLEY WORTH USD14.7MILLION.
OCEANIC BANK NIGERIA PLC,
4/6 Adetokunbo Ademola Street,
P. O. Box 75369
Victoria Island, Lagos.
Sir. Major Cole Rutherford
Tel Phone; +234 7087622262
Fax/Phone; +234 7633106
Email: accountingdepartment@accountingdepartments.com
Email: majorcolerutherford080@gmail.com
6 / 16 / 2010
RE: ESTATE ACCOUNT OF LATE GEORGE BRUMLEY WORTH USD14.7MILLION.
ATTN: BENEFICIALY,
WE THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OCEANIC BANK PLC. SYMPATHIZES WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OVER THE DEATH OF YOUR UNCLE LATE GEORGE BRUMLEY AND IT WAS A BLOW TO OUR BANK AS HE WAS A PROMINENT CUSTOMER OF OURS. IT IS ON THIS NOTE THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS BANK WISHES TO SEND ACROSS ITS CONDOLENCE TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH AND AS SUCH WE PRAY THAT SUCH DOES NOT REPEAT ITSELF IN YOUR FAMILY AGAIN UNTIL A RIPE AGE.
THE FEE OF THE $250 FOR RE-ACTIVATING FEE WAS RECEIVED AND BELOW IS THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE LAWYER THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THOSE DOCUMENTS SINCE YOU CAN NOT COME DOWN TO NIGERIA FOR THE SIGNING YOU JUST HAVE TO HIGHER A LAWYER THAT WILL HELP YOU PROCURE THOSE DOCUMENTS.
THE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS WHICH YOU ARE TO SUBMIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE US COMMENCE THE TRANSFER PROCESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(1) AN INHERITANCE CERTIFICATE
(2) A SUPREME COURT AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM
(3) AN ENROLLMENT ORDER (LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION)
CONTACT BARRISTER AGBA ADAMS
Barrister Agba Adams Chambers
Tel Phone: +234 7028791339
Email: barr_admas_agba_chambers@live.com
NOTE THAT THESE ABOVE MENTIONED DOCUMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO YOUR CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND WE CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT THE PRESENTATION OF THOSE DOCUMENTS TO OUR BANK BY YOU ONCE AGAIN YOUR FORM WAS APPROVE BY THE BANK.
YOU ARE FREE TO CALL ME ON MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER +234 7087622262 FOR FURTHER ORAL CLARIFICATION REGARDING YOUR PAYMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
SIR MAJOR COLE RUTHERFORD
HEAD FOREIGN OPT.
OCEANIC BANK NIGERIA PLC.
TEL PHONE +234 7087622262
FAX/PHONE; +234 7633106
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Anti-fraud resources:
