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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- 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.
- terri.williams00@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sir Steve Omojafor (GMD/CEO)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terri.williams00@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 05:22:46 -0400
Subject: From: SIR STEVE OMOJAFOR (GMD/CEO)
ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL
>From Zenith Group
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
From: SIR STEVE OMOJAFOR (GMD/CEO)
Remittance Manager
Attention: Beneficiary,
This is to officially inform you that I have received your contract inheritance file presented on my desk from the Ministry of Finance Nigeria, and it’s important that I contact you for verification before the money is released to you.
After the board meeting held at our headquarters and also with the approval from the ministry of finance Nigeria, we concluded to send you a MasterCard which gives you access to make withdrawals from your total sum of $900,000,00USD. (Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
Do write/call to the name (Mr.Terri Williams) below since he’s in charge of our customer's unit for clearance before your MasterCard along with an official document from United Bank of Africa that will contain directions for your card usage will be sent to you through Satify Courier services.
Its rest assured that you can make withdrawals with your MasterCard from any ATM MACHINE near you or in any part of the world.
To proceed further and for information on when to expect your card as well you're to contact the below person with your personal information which must include your full name and phone/cell number:
Mr.Terri Williams
Customer Unit (Zenith Bank)
Email: terri.williams00@gmail.com
Tel: +234 708 644 8275.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Best Regards,
Sir Steve Omojafor (GMD/CEO)
Remittance Manager
Zenith Bank plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
