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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:
- "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.
- krdudley99@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <rgilster11@firemail.de>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 04:01:15 +0100
Subject: Attention reqiured
Good day
I am Dr Karl R Dudley an investment banker by profession but currently running my own firm, Bresnan & Associates. I was
recently contracted by the Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN).in conjunction with the Federal Reserve and the White
House to help reconcile and reimburse all citizens or persons who have not been paid funds owed to the them by the Federal
Govt. of Nigeria.Our job has been going on smoothly and so far we have been able to pay 58 Americans and 33
other people from around the world. However, last week I came across your files and discovered that there is counter
claims on your funds presently by a Mr.Jones Tsai,who has declared to us that you are dead and even explained that you had
an agreement with him, to help you in receiving your part payment of $7.3Million.He also tendered all the necessary
documents to back up this claim. We are using this email as a medium to further validate and to confirm that he is indeed
your beneficiary. kindly reconfirm to us, for your urgent release of the Premium immediately.
Reconfirm the above information to avoid making payment to a wrong person. Kindly reach me on my private email
(krdudley99@yahoo.com)
Dr Karl R Dudley
Bresnan & Associates
CC: Dr Sanusi Lamido
Governor Central Bank of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
