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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:
- "clearing fee" (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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gej2011@blumail.org>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 09:52:51 -0700
Subject: Re; NEW FINANCE MINISTER
Sir,
Re; Release of US$121 Million Contract Inheritance fund.
We are sorry for the delays we are encountering as regards payment arrangement for you to receive our funds.Please kindly bear with us as we have been trying to inuagurate New minister of Finance who will be responsible for your final crediting, fortunately she was cleared and Approved by all the regulatory offices involved yesterday. Her inuaguration will be soonest and I as the President will not be happy if you continue to delay your funds release just because of the requested officail handling/ Clearing fees/ taxes which you know full well is legal, genuine and unavoidable. Kindly request for method of making the payment immediately so that she will release your funds immediately she commence work as not to carry over old jobs and debts. You funds have been Approved in our 2011 Budget for immediate release. I want you to be the first to benfit.
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201107073122146
NB: You must reconfirm/ nominate the rightful and Valid Account where you want your funds transferred. This is in accordiance to my commitments to my campaign promise for transperent Government and to right the wrongs within the short period of my administration. Expecting your urgent reply.
Thanks for your anticipated Co-operation.
Sincerely.
Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (SFG)
For;
H.E.Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR).
President and Commander in-chief.
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This email may contain information which is privileged and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately
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Anti-fraud resources:
