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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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- emma_femi@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Sandra Sify" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sandrasify@globomail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 08:03:04 +0200
Subject: How Are You My Dear
Attention: Beneficiary
Have you Received Your Payment.? Your Immediate Confirmation is needed with Your Full Information If Truly You Have Not Received Your Payment. I wish to use this Medium to inform you that your INHERITANCE Part Payment of USD2.3M Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD2.3M in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world.
We have mandated MR.EMMA FEMI of Atm Card Consultant Office to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw all your USD2.3 Million Dollars in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world.
You are advice to stop any further communication with anybody and contact the officer in-charge with the below information:
Senior Regional Representative.
Contact Person: MR.EMMA FEMI,
Privet Email: emma_femi@aol.com
Tell MR.EMMA FEMI, that you received a message from the office of the Presidency, instructing him to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER which you will use to withdraw your due fund in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, also reconfirm back to him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you.
We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our congratulations.
Best Regards.
Ms. Sandra Sify
Account Reconciliation Officer, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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Anti-fraud resources:
