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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Peter Phillip" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phillipdr@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:10:42 +0100
Subject: Your long Awaited Inheritance arriving your door step/
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
African Division
I.m.f Resident Representative
Plot 39 Ozumba Mbadiwe
Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.
PO Box 54812
World Bank Bldg.
Attn Beneficiary,
This is to bring to your notice that this office and the paying bank has concluded plans to deliver your long awaited inheritance fund to your door step via Diplomatic delivery in other to avoid further delay which you have encountered for some years now.
Note that your $13.5MUSD fund has been packaged by the paying bank Central Bank Nigeria and has been lodged in the security company Ghana. You are warned not to let the cat out of cage to any 3rd party until your fund arrive your custody.
The diplomatic security companies are unaware of the trunk content as fund. Keep this development to your self. Because neither this office nor the paying bank will be liable to any hitch caused by your inability to conceal this secret.
Finally reconfirm the receipt of this mail by calling this office +234-7064310364 and urgent email.
Kindly forward your information's as follow.
Country/city/state of origin
Private/valid telephone number.
This office is waiting for your call
Best Regards
Dr. Phillip Peter
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Anti-fraud resources:
