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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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: Mr.Ahmed Idris <office5@sdgaad.ml>
Reply-To: <br1awlsn@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2016 08:48:48 +0100
Subject: URGENT NOTIFICATION
>From The Desk Of Mr.Ahmed Idris
The Accountant
General Of Nigeria.
Attn: Sir
We are writing to inform you that we have received directive from the Nigeria Ministry of Finance to approve and make payment of your over due payment through our central bank.
This was necessitated after a deliberation held with the world bank delegates and Nigeria government on the 12/06/16, In this meeting the Nigeria Government urged the world bank and the pairs club to cancel our debts , but the plead did not go down well with the financial bodies until the two parties resolved and agreed on one condition that the Nigeria Government should pay all the foreign contractors , individuals and corporate bodies that have been owned for some years now.
The work bank who has received several petitions from different multinational companies and individuals for non payment of their contracts and inheritance funds here in Nigeria as stated has , instructed that without evidence of payment to these transactions to their office our debt review will not be accepted.
In view to this development this office has been directed to contact you for your payment , so you are there by instructed to get back to this office as a matter of urgency for verification and payment through our central bank.
Confirm receipt of this message urgently
Yours sincerely
Mr.Ahmed Idris
The Accountant
General Of Nigeria
Tel: +234-8062406364
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Anti-fraud resources:
