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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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: "Dom Clark" <domclark230@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: domclarke116@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2012 17:08:32 -0400
Subject: Do You Know Mr. Kennedy Franklin?
Greetings.
My Name is Dr.Dom Clark,I just started work with Central Bank of Nigeria as a
Director.This is to inform you of your long overdue Payment outstanding in our
Banking records.
Your name is in our bank Central list of over due unpaid individuals who will
be paid in this banking quarter. However we received an email from one Mr.
Kennedy Franklin who submitted his account information to our transfer
department for the transfer of this fund to him on your approval.
I am contacting you through your email address,following the record we have,if
we can make the transfer into his account?
Your urgent response is needed before the payment is released to him.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Dr.Dom Clark
Assessment Director,
Central Bank of Nigeria
Abuja-Nigeria.
234-817-076-188
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Anti-fraud resources:
