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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: GENERAL NANA ADDO <major-gen-nana-addo@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:59:31 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!!!!
ATTN,
I AM GENERAL NANA ADDO (UN), I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT TWO DIPLOMATS HAS
BEEN ARRESTED AT KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THIS MORNING TRYING TO
DIVERT YOUR CONSIGNMENT/BOXES TAGGED DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE 122 WITH
DIPLOMATIC REF#; WE HAVE RECOVERED USD$2.5MILLION AND WE HAVE ALSO HANDED
OVER THEM TO THE POLICE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. BE INFORMED THAT BY
THE PROCESS OF DUPLICATING YOUR CERTIFICATES THEY DAMAGED YOUR CERTIFICATE
OF OWNERSHIP, OTHER DOCUMENTS WERE TAGGED TO THE BOXES.
RIGHT NOW YOU NEED GET BACK TO SECURE YOUR NEW CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP
COST ($175.00USD) AND CUSTOMS STAMP DUTY OF ($30.00USD) FROM HIGH COURT HERE
IN NIGERIA.
UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR PAYMENT, WE SEND YOU A SCAN COPY OF YOUR AIRWAY BILL
FROM THE UN.
THANKS
SALUTE
GENERAL NANA ADDO
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Anti-fraud resources:
