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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:
- "mtcn" (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)
- "abuja" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "JOHN GADO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gado1950@blumail.org>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:11:25 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
Good day,
I really sympathies with you over your situation in pursuing this overdue payment for a very long time. The problem is that you have been dealing with the wrong people through the wrong channels.
Based on our investigations, we wish to warn you against some Miscreants, Hoodlums and Touts who go about scamming innocent people by claiming to be who they are not and thereby tarnishing the image of this wonderful country. Will really sympathies with you over your situation in pursuing this overdue payment for a very long time.
The ATM Card is officially / documentary processed through the governmental routine under the ESCROW law that does not permit deduction until it gets to the final designation.
I guarantee you of this transaction with my life and my word is my bond and can never change.
Note: the amount in ATM Card is US$25 Million Dollars, You will be required to pay the cost of the SHIPMENT FEES so that this ATM Card will be send to your house address.
Receivers: Name: Linda Banji
Receivers: Address: Abuja Nigeria
Test Question: Year
Test Answer: 1950
Mtcn:.............
Amount: $120
After sending the $120 send the payment details to this e-mail address.
As soon as you make this payment of $120 dollars the ATM Card will be delivered to you immediately.
Please reconfirm your receiving address and cell phone number for our official delivery procedures.
I wait to hear from you as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
JOHN GADO
National Security Adviser
E-mail: gado1950@blumail.org
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Anti-fraud resources:
