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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "dr.macgeorge@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "compensation department" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.macgeorge@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 17:22:47 +0200
Subject: Urgently Waiting For Your Response
Dr. Mac George
Director Foreign Operations,
Central Bank Of Nigeria.
Abuja-Nigeria.
Re: Confirmation Of the Approval On your compensation Payment Of Your Approved Fund of $500,000USD To Mr.Oliver Chessman
Attention: Beneficiary
I am Dr. Mac George The Director foreign Operations Central Bank of Nigeria. According to my payment file, you have an outstanding payment of $500,000USD approved by the president of Nigeria and someone by name and address Mr.Oliver ChessMan of 1301 ST.Anthony Lane Petaluma CA, USA is about claiming it that you are dead.
I communicated you to be sure if his claim is true or false. You are to reply this letter with in 24 hours with the reconfirmation of your personal information stated below as it is or the payment will be released to Mr.Oliver Chessman your next of kin as you said
Full names................
Current Address................
Mobile................
Occupation................
Age................
Nationality................
Next of Kin................
Urgently Waiting for your confirmation
contact Email: dr.macgeorge@outlook.com
Dr. Mac George
For: Debts Reconciliation Committee.
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Anti-fraud resources:
