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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: "PHILLIP OBADA" <phillipobada7all77@gmail.com>
Reply-To: phillipobadax@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:42:35 +0800
Subject: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
[From the desk of the F.M.F Abuja.]
19/03/2012.
THE SECOND PAYMENT OF YOUR PENDING FUNDS.
Dear Sir.
This is to acknowledge you that the Federal Republic of Nigeria under
the administration of President Good Luck Jonathan’’ are Ready to
Transfer to you the Second five million Dollars (USD$8 million) into
your account as it was made first Quatar of year 2010.
We want to also know if this same amount should go into the same
stated bank account information, POST BANK U.S.A. ACCOUNT NUMBER #
488032223875 with Branch number BSB # 084 707.US.
The F.M.F particularly are very much happy about this development
because the new president is eager to clear the backlog of payments
and use it to say thanks to the supporters & the international
communities for all effort during the last APRIL, 2011 Presidential
elections.
I urgently expect your implicit cooperation as soon as you get this
message so that we can carry on the Transfer with immediate effect.
You are hereby advised to reply upon receipt of this message.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Phillip Obada.
Debt Management Office.
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Anti-fraud resources:
