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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "drayobalogun@yandex.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: FILE OFFICE <mamofile1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <drayobalogunng@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2015 11:35:28 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS MEMO
Dear Sir/Madam,
How are you today?
Don't be surprised to receive this mail from me. I want to conclude the business I have protected for so long with you. I will work with you on 60/40 share basis. No risk involved.
It is my pleasure to confide in you that I have secured a huge sum of money which I can transfer to your bank account without any problem for my private interest.
I am Dr.Ayo Balogun, Head of Foreign Payment Department with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
I am in control of foreign payments and failed payments due to foreign contractors who have executed contracts with our cooperation. I also have huge commission left behind for me to receive from the payments.
I will give you full details when I hear from you and let you know the role you will play in receiving the money as the beneficiary since I am prohibited from pirating foreign account.
Please let me know as soon as you receive this message if you can work with me to achieve this deal through my private email (drayobalogun@yandex.com).
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
Awaiting your response.
Sincerely.
Dr.Ayo Balogun.
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Anti-fraud resources:
