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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "International Monetary Fund" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adetomipolakunle@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 07:27:17 -0800
Subject: Re: International Monetary Fund. Code: 60
Attn: Client,
My name is Adetomi Peter Olakunle and I am the new IMF payment
officer to release your pending fund to you. I am directed to deliver
your fund to you in the form of cash which worth the sum $15.5 Million
Dollars by IMF (International Monetary Fund).
Send me your full mailing address and your contact phone number
for final verification before I move to deliver to your home in person.
You only have to pay the sum of $55 which you have to send to the
below information:
Name: Adetomi Peter Olakunle
Address: City: Lagos, Nigeria
Text Question: Pending
Answer: Fund
Amount: $55
Your fund is sealed in a computerised locked box and only you is
authorized to open the box when I deliver it to you which makes it
impossible for me to deduct the $55. The fee is required to release
a computerised code which you will use to open your box when I get
to your home, only you will be given the code for security reasons
when I get to your home.
Send the money through Western Union or Money Gram as soon as
possible. E-mail me payment information once you make the payment
so I can move immediately. I will leave immediately I confirm $55
payment from you.
Thanks,
Adetomi Peter Olakunle.
International Monetary Fund.
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Anti-fraud resources:
