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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- rev.morenikeadams4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. ANGEL SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <amorenike31@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:40:13 -0400
Subject: Your Bank Draft Call Rev. Morenike Adams Tel:+234-8181-566-194
Dear Friend,
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank
you for Your great effort to our unfinished transfer of your winning cheque
to you as a winner, due to logistic reasons or the other best known to you.
But I Want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the cheque to
someone else account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the
course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to
you With the sum of $6 Million United State of America Dollars I have
authorized Rev. Morenike Adams where I deposited my money to issue you
International certified
bank draft cashable at your bank.
My dear friend I will like you to contact Rev. Morenike Adams for the
collection of this international Certified bank draft. The name and contact
address of Rev. Morenike Adams is as follows.
Rev. Morenike Adams
Telephone: +234-8181-566-194
Email: rev.morenikeadams4@gmail.com
Contact Rev. Morenike Adams at the moment, I am very busy here because of
the investment projects which I and my new partner are having at hand In
London. Finally remember that I have forwarded instruction to the Rev.
Morenike Adams on your behalf to send the bank draft cheque of Six Million
United State Of America Dollars to you as soon as you contact him without
delay. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this
is From the bottom of my heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. ANGEL SMITH.
Your Bank Draft Call Rev. Morenike Adams Tel:+234-8181-566-194
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