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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)
- "a security company " (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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <obaseki.gaius@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2016 11:43:57 -0300
Subject: From DR GAIUS OBASEKI
Dr GAIUS OBASEKI
GMD NNPC
ELEME PROVINCE
PORT HARCOUT CITY
NIGERIA
Dear Sir/Madam
I am Dr gaius Obaseki former NNPC GMD,I worked for so many years for my country and was equally paid handsomly,i am contacting you to help me invest some of my funds worth 20 000 000usd(twenty million dollars)which i acquired when i was the NNPC GMD,due to the economic situation of my country i have deciuded to find you as a partner to help me invest this funds,When i was the GMD i moved this fund out of my country diplomatically through a security company that is affliate with some Banks in Africa.Currently the money is in Europe and every othr details i will give to you in my next mail to you haven seen your seriousness and interest in assisting me,10% of the funds will be given to you for your assistance and 5 percent will be for any expenses that may arise on the process.Furthermore you can look me up at http://www.jackson-gaius-obaseki.com/obaseki1.html.i await your reponse
Regards
Dr Gaius Obaseki
GMD NNPC
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Anti-fraud resources:
