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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:
- "cashiers check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <d.kumar@blumail.org>
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 06:09:50 -0400
Subject: 8/28/2013/ABE
Hello Sir/Madam,
It has been resolved in a meeting held today 28th of Auguat 2013 that the following should be the new payment scheme for the release of your $11 Million USD as a matter of Urgency without any futher delay with the supervision of the FBI and EFCC.
This is as a result in the change in government of the payment board that has been sitting on your funds. I state the new procedure below:
1) Choose a delivery Method from the two options stated below.
i) Direct bank wire transfer.(This is a direct credit into any bank of your choice).
ii) Certified Cashiers Check. (This is a direct delivery of a cashiers check to any address of your choice).
2) You pay an initial Deposit of $150 on or before 7th of September 2013.
3) You will write a letter addressed to The Director,Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria. that you will pay the balance of the fee as soon as you receive your funds.($4,850 and 5% of the total amount as TAX.)
4) Send a copy of your identification.
These are the requirements that will enable you to receive your Funds, as soon as you are in agreement with the payment scheme please do get back to me so i can proceed with the claims process.
Thanks
Mr David Kumar
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Anti-fraud resources:
