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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:
- "anti-terrorism certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Joseph Okay" <dr.josepho@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Dr. Joseph Okay" <dr.josephokay@dr.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 12:22:40 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: Payment Notification
Attn: Sir/ Madam,
This is to inform you that your long outstanding contract/inheritance and Compensation payment of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD6.5M) has been approved. The (USD6.5M) will be programmed into an ATM CARD, Powered by Master-Card/Visa card. The debit card can be used on any ATM machine/P.O.S (POINT OF SALES) all over the world, or you can go to your bank to off-load the funds into your account.
The Decision to program the Fund in a Visa Debit ATM Card was made after the Board Meeting Held with the Minister of Finance to stop corrupt Bank officials from demanding unnecessary fee and Certificate like transfer fee or Money Laundry and Anti-terrorism certificate from beneficiaries.
(1)   Your Full-Name: (2) Your Physical address not PO BOX: (3) Telephone, mobile and fax Number: (4) A copy of Your International Passport or Driver’s License
You are therefore advice to forward the above information to us immediately for the immediate release of your long outstanding contract/inheritance and Compensation payment of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars, call me on (+234-818-481-3178) immediately you received this message for further instruction.
I look forward to hearing from you.Â
Best regards.
Dr. Joseph Okay
Executive Director,
ATM Card Unit (C.B.N)
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Anti-fraud resources:
