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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Batala Suleman <batalams07@att.net>
Reply-To: batalamsuleman@yahoo.cn
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:44:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RE: CHRISTMAS BOUNCE
RE: CHRISTMAS BOUNCE
Attn: Sir,
I am Mr. Batala A. Malick Suleman, director foreign
payment department of the central bank of Nigeria.
We are very sorry to appologize for non payment of
your contract sum, due to Political reasons from the.
After our meeting yesterday with CBN/world bank of
Nigeria plc. we write to notify you that Federal
Government of Nigeria, has approved a part payment
of $5,000,000:00 to all over due contract payment
Please you are adviced to send the below informations
to enable our corresponent banks in United Kindom
and Dubai United Arab Emirates to transfer the fund
to your nominated account. Please send the fellowing
informations:
YOUR FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS
PHONE/MOBILE NO.
NAME OF THE BANK:
BRANCH/ADDRESS:
ACCOUNT NAME:
ACCOUNT NO:
SWIFT CODE:
I am waiting to get this informations
Mr.Batala A. Malick Suleman
+234 8064944815
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Anti-fraud resources:
