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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:
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr.Judge Willams
Reply-To: <chairmancontractaward@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:48:45 -0500
Subject: Attenton; Inheritance and Contractor's
FROM FEDERAL ECOWAS HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA BRANCH:
OB/OP/1234 Nigeria Ecowas High Court. OUR
REF.CODE:BSEL/773/FEHCN/021/ 15
Attenton; Inheritance and Contractor's
This is an official message coming to you by the chief judge Williams i am writing to inform you because after the meeting held yesterday by the board of director's i meant to understand that you are not yet receive your compensation fund $5 Million United State Dollars which was instructed to be deliver to your address by the federal government of this country, however i want to inform you that Mr. Williams Volk and with some CBN executive was arrested today and by tomorrow morning they will be taking to court and after the court all of them will be jail at the same time for they illegal act towards your payment.
Secondly i want you to stop any illegal transaction you are having in this Africa concerning your fund because we have already issue out a cashier check that contain your fund and it was handed over the FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT controller,For the FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT to deliver you check to you home address and the only amount you will spend on this is $185 and you will have your check from the FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT without anymore delay or any other payment.
Finally don't ever delay on making the payment because i don't need anything that will make you not to receive you check from the FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT,and never you surprise why it is only FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT is in charge for you check,is only FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT will deliver it to you without
any problem of disturbance for air ways action tax force,so i want you to follow my instruction and i assure you with the rest of the life that within the next 24hours you will receive your check from the FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE AGENT and if you don't receive your check after sending the $185 let the god almighty take away my life but if
you do receive your check after sending the $185 let the god also spear my life, and i am saying all this just to prove to you that i am the only person who will make it happen so kindly get back to me after reading this mail to enable us get this done once and for all.
And below is the payment details.
Receiver::::::::::: Peter Biose
Country ::::::::::: Lagos-Nigeria
Amount::::::::::::: $185 USD.?
Text Question.::::: WHEN?
Answer :::::::::::: TODAY?
SENDER :::::::::::: NAME?
MTCN::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thanks.
Best Regard.
Commissioner Judge willams
FROM FEDERAL ECOWAS HIGH COURT
ABUJA NIGERIA
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