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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- revmorganb@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Revmorgan Briggs <brevmorgan@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: revmorganb@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:10:48 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
FROM THE DESK OF REV MORGAN BRIGGS
PAYMASTER GENERAL
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
E-MAIL: revmorganb@gmail.com
DIRECT TELEPHONE: +234-8139386639
YOUR ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
ATTENTION:BENEFICIARY
This is to officially inform you that your fund $4.5 Million has been
duly approved and gazette to you via ATM Visa Card after due
reconciliation with the Audit Report of the year ended. Your Personal
Identification Number is 0920.
You are advised to contact the ATM/Computer Department of the issuing
bank, message to be addressed to The Paymaster General, REV MORGAN BRIGGS
for further direction on how to receive your ATM visa card. Contact
information is as Below; Email: (revmorganb@gmail.com)
Tel;+234 8139386639,
Respond immediately with the under listed information's for clarity and
avoidance of error;
FULL NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBERS
STATE/COUNTRY
OCCUPATION
SEX,AGE
Respond immediately for onward proceeding/
Best Regard
Rev Morgan Briggs
PAYMASTER GENERAL
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.(C B N).
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Anti-fraud resources:
