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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million united states 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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Okoja <o.b.p@live.fr>
Reply-To: mrjohnmoka@profesores.com
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 12:30:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary
Attn: Beneficiary,
Your Name Was Given To The ATM Payment Center In Respect Of Your cheque Which You Have Failed To Claim Because Of Either Non-Compliance Of Official Processes Or Because Of Your Unable to follow due process for the Realization Of Your Payment. We Wish To Bring To You The Solution To This Problem. Your Payment Has Been Arrange Through Swift Card Payment Centers, That Is The Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) This Card Center have Sent To You An ATM DEBIT Card Which You Will Use To Withdraw Your funds $5.8 Million Usd In Any ATM Machine In Any Part Of The World, And the maximum the atm card withdraw per day is three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.
We wish to inform you that the diplomatic agent conveying the ATM DEBIT Card
valued the sum of $5.8 Million United States Dollars misplaced your
address and he is currently stranded at your International airport now. We
required you reconfirm the following informations below so that he can
deliver your ATM DEBIT Card to you today.
(1)YOUR FULL NAME: _______
(2)HOME/OFFICE ADDRESS: ________
(3)MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: _______
(4)A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: __________
Please do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below with the
informations required.Contact Person : Mr. John Moka
EMAIL;(mrjohnmoka@profesores.com)
He is waiting to hear from you today with the informations..NOTE : The
Diplomatic agent does not know that the content of the ATM DEBIT Card is
$5.8 Millions United States Dollars and on no circumstances should you
let him know the content..The package was moved from here as family
treasures, so never allow him to open the package.
Thanks.
Mrs.Linda Okoja
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Anti-fraud resources:
