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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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: PHILLIPH AKPAN <linda@iactive.co.za>
Reply-To: akpan.p5@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 15:39:54 +0200
Subject: GOOD NEWS!!!
THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA
THREE- ARMS ZONE
P.M.B. 308. GARKI
ABUJA
ATTENTION DEAR BENEFICIARY,
I AM HON. JUSTICE PHILLIP AKPAN I WAS THE JUSTICE CONTACTED BY UNITED NATIONS FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR OVER DUE PAYMENT ON THIS LAST PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2013 WHICH IS
GETTING TO END VERY SOON AND ALSO A JUSTICE ATTACHED TO CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT,AND I CONTACTED YOU TODAY BASED ON THE FACT THAT LAST
PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2013 IS GOING ON AND IT WILL SOON BE END AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RELEASING PAYMENT NOW TO THE BENEFICIARIES THROUGH ATM VISA CARD WHICH AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT GAMBIA IS BEEN USING FOR THE PAYMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE FACT THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS OIL RESERVE ACCOUNT WITH THE BANK.
I HAVE PROOF AND EVIDENCE OF BENEFICIARIES THAT HAS ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR OWN AND BASED ON MY POSITION HERE I CAN HELP YOU TO GET YOUR PAYMENT RELEASE AS MUCH AS YOU
WORK WITH ME.
AS THE JUSTICE ATTACHED TO THE CENTRAL BANK AND UNITED NATION MANDATED JUSTICE I CAN HELP YOU SECURE THE PAYMENT BUT THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT B/W YOU AND MYSELF
BECAUSE I WILL TAKE 30% OF THE TOTAL FUND IF IT GETS TO YOU WHILE YOU WILL TAKE 70% OF THE FUND AS THE OWNER SO THIS IS A DEAL AND IF YOU AGREE LET US MOVE ON, MY
FIRST SIGNING IS AN AGREEMENT OF HOW THE FUND HAS TO BE SHARED.
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION
HON. PHILLIP AKPAN
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Anti-fraud resources:
