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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:
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- efcc.interpol001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Efcc & Interpol Fraud Investigation Unit <messagefolder1@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To:
Efcc & Interpol Fraud Investigation Unit <efcc.interpol001@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 04:45:48 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention: Dear Innocent Scam Victim !!
 The FBI/Interpol Coalition on Fraud Investigations
35 Portman Square
London
W1H 6LR
United Kingdom.
Attention: Dear Innocent Scam Victim !!
We recently arrested a group of West African / Ghana, Benin and Nigerian Internet scam Artists in Africa and we have reasons to believe you have been one of their numerous victims. A thorough search of the laptops arrested with the individuals and their confessions during interrogation has revealed to us that you paid certain sums of money to these fraudsters .These individuals have been wrongfully informing a lot of people via email that they have huge sums of money to be transferred from a foreign bank account. Also, they have confessed to loan scam and Lottery scam and have been demanding money from innocent people for purported claims of the said money. They operated with a fake Bank and courier and a lot of people have fallen victims to them in the past 5 years. They were arrested a week ago when they attempted to defraud an American citizen of $5.2m USD by the FBI/ British Intelligence Unit and the Interpol working together to break the scam ring.
Our Investigation revealed that you paid out some money to these individuals over a period of time. We are happy to inform you that you can now claim back your money as well as your compensation. We have already initiated proceedings on your behalf with the West African / Nigerian Government to ensure that as a genuine scam victim, you will not only recover your lost money, but also you will be compensated for the financial and emotional stress you and your family went through because of the scam. Our Internal Audit Bureau has estimated that you are eligible to claim a total of $5.5M 00 USD from the Fraud Compensation Committee set up by the West African / Nigerian Government to ensure that properly identified scam victims are paid and adequately compensated from the $3bn allocated compensation loan from the World Bank. This Fund is directly under the watchful eye of both the FBI/Interpol to avoid misappropriation or embezzlement of fund. The known assets of the Fraudsters has since be confiscated and their Bank.
You are directed to contact the Efcc/Interpol Coalition on Fraud Investigations for the payment into your account or by ATM Card payment to your address. There is only two way of receiving this said compensation fund, by ATM VISA CARD OR BY WIRE TRANSFER ONLY. Kindly contact the office in-charge for the payment.
35 Garrik Square Abuja.
Nigeria
W2H Y11GR
F.C.T Abuja Nigeria.
Agent In-Charge.
Dr. Jim Clairk
Email: efcc.interpol001@gmail.com
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