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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:
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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: "Zenith Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbaankplc@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:49:32 +0100
Subject: ATTN: BENEFICIARY, FINAL RELEASE OF YOUR AWAITED FUND TO YOU.
FROM FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
ZENITH BANK PLC.
TEL:+234-9023868860.
DATE:29TH/SEPT,2016.
ATTN BENEFICIARY,
I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO WAIVE ALL THE CHARGES AFTER THE JUST CONCLUDED MEETING WITH THE SENATES TO RELEASE YOUR LONG AWAITED OVERDUE INHERITANCE FUND $9.5M USD TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.
AFTER THE BOARD MEETING THIS MORNING, WE HAVE AGRRED TO WORK WITH THE DIRECTIVES AND INSTRUCTION WE RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ( SENATE ) TO SEE THAT ALL THE BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES TO RECEIVE THEIR FUND HAVE ACESS TO THEIR PAYMENT URGENTLY.
YOU ARE ADVICE URGENTLY ON RECEIPT OF THIS EMAIL TO KINDLY SEND TO US YOUR INFORMATION AS STATED BELOW SUCH AS:
YOUR FULL NAMES:
YOUR ADDRESS:
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:
YOUR MOBILE NUMBER:
YOUR OCCUPATION:
YOUR AGE:
YOUR MARITAL STATUS:
YOUR IDENTIFICATION/ DRIVERS LICENSE.
ON RECEIPT OF YOUR INFORMATION/DATAS AS REQUIRED WE WILL EFFECT THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND TO YOU URGENTLY WITHIN 48HRS.
FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ON +234-9023868860 URGENTLY YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL FOR MORE EXPLANATION AND FOR ME TO GUIDE YOU FURTHER ON HOW YOUR FUND WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING IN THIS MATTER AS I WORK TOWARD ENSURING THAT YOUR FUND IS RELEASE TO YOU SMOOTHLY.
YOURS SINCERELY
MR. PAUL OGOM.
FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICER
ZENITN BANK PLC.
TEL: +234-9023868860.
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Anti-fraud resources:
