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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:
- "inheritance funds" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (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.
- 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.
- bellousman88888@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. BELLO USMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bellousman88888@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:40:32 -0700
Subject: RE: PAYMENT OF YOUR FUND VIA TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE.
TINUBU SQUARE, LAGOS NIGERIA
TEL: 234 -8130490493
Email bellousman88888@hotmail.com
RE: PAYMENT OF YOUR FUND VIA TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER
DEAR
THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAS FINALIZE WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
CORRESPONDING BANK IN LONDON UK TO ENSURE THAT YOU RECEIVED YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE FUNDS BEFORE THE END OF THIS BATCH.
THE FINANCE MINISTRY HAS MADE EVERY NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CONCERNING THIS PAYMENT AND PAYMENT ADVICE HAS BEEN SENT TO THIS OFFICE TO DISCHARGE DUTIES EFFECTIVELY BE AWARE THAT IN THIS BATCH YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A PART PAYMENT VALID IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
WITH THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THE PAYING BANK IN LONDON WAS THAT YOU PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORWARD THE ACCOUNT DETAILS WHEREBY THE FUNDS WILL BE FINAL REMITTED TO UNITED STATES SO YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO FORWARD YOUR BANKING DETAILS TO ENSURE THAT THAT WE DO NOT MAKE ANY
WRONG TRANSFER.
FINALLY I WILL BE WAITING VERY URGENT THIS WEEK TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE TO ENABLE THIS OFFICE TO FINALIZE WITH THE PAYING BANK IN LONDON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THIS INHERITANCE FUNDS PENDING IN THE ESCROW ACCOUNT OF HSBC BANK IN LONDON.
REGARDS,
DR.USMAN BELLO.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
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Anti-fraud resources:
