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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida mzamber waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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: Mrs farida Waziri <waziri.mrsfarida44@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: wmrsfarida35@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:31:41 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD/ALIVE? DID YOU SIGN ANY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT?
Economic And Financial
Crime Commission(EFCC)
167 Amadu Bellow ways,
Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria
OFFICE OF THE EFCC FARIDA WAZIRI
ARE YOU DEAD/ALIVE? DID YOU SIGN ANY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT?
The Economical And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in alliance with (ECOWAS) and with the help of United States Government and the United Nations we are working towards the eradication exercise of fraudsters and Scam Artists here in Western part of Africa and the world.
Today Investigation on your payment file and reason for delay in your approved fund. Did you sign any deed in favor of MR. GERSHON SHAPIRO thereby making him the current beneficiary of your fund.
Please if you did not sign, or Authorize him to receive your payment on your behalf, Kindly reconfirm to us with your information. For the urgent release of your fund.
Do reply immediately you receive this mail for confirmation and to receive your approved fund. OR you are advice to come down to our office here for the sign release of your fund but if there is any useful reason why you can not afford to come in person then you should notify this office immediately.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri
CHAIRMAN: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION(E.F.C.C).
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Anti-fraud resources:
