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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "foreign payment unit" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (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: thomas much <thomasmunch7890@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 09:01:31 +0200
Subject: Foreign Payment Unit
Re-ImmediateUS$10Million Part-Payment of Your Contract Fund with
Federal Government of Nigeria.
This is to inform you that the Presidency has stepped into the payment
of your contract funds with the Federal Government of Nigeria due to
the complain you contractor?s make to United Nation and World Bank to
sanction Nigeria Government not to have any other business relationship
with any country till we settle all our outstanding debts our to you
foreign contractor?s.
A meeting was hold at Abuja regards to this sanction from the UN and
World Bank for the settlement of this debts own to you contractor?s, I
wish to inform you that an International Certified Bank Draft worth of
US$10Million has been raised in your favour as your name appear in our
computer with some other vital documents that will help you cash the
draft in your country without problem and the balance will be paid to
you in known distance time.
You are to come down here in Nigeria Or Ghana for the collection of this
Draft/Documents but alternatively if you can not make the trip here in
Nigeria for the collection of this Draft/Documents here in Nigeria Or Ghana
with a genuine reason you are to pay the US$365.00(Three Hundred And
Sixty Five United States Dollars Only) for the Issuance Fee and DHL
Fee of dispatching to you be inform to contact only this Office
Foreign Payment Unit Senator C.K. IBRAHIM Thomas for the collection of this
US$10.000.000.00 in your returning fax to this office reconfirm your
phone and fax number.Should this be acceptable to you, kindly indicate in
writing and confirm the following:
Full Name:
.....................................................................
Contact Address: .........................................................
Direct Telephone Number: ..........................................
Age: ......................................................................
Occupation and Position: ........................................
Marriage Status: .......................................................
Gender: ...................................................................
jeopardize your effort of receiving this funds,SENATOR C. K. Thomas
Chairman Foreign Payment Unit.
giving this funds even your local representatives here in Nigeria and
attorney they done harm then good every day in your contract file
regards to change of account not given by you contractor?s.
Understand that if you are cut by the Nigerian Telecommunication
Monitoring Unit (NTMU) that you are contacting another office apart
from this mention office you are to pay a fine of US$20.000.00 for not
adhering to our instruction is not our wish to have your funds delayed
a word is enough for a wise.
Best regards
IBRAHIM Thomas
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