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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:
- "million us 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: "=?UTF-8?Q?Rodrigo_Mendon=C3=A7a_?=da Silva" <rodrigo.silva@forship.com.br>
Reply-To: skye.claim2016@yandex.com
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 18:16:40 -0200
Subject: Debt Management Office
Debt Management Office of Nigeria
Address: NDIC Building, Plot 447, 448 Construction Avenue, Central Business District,
Garki-Abuja
Phone: +234 9 5237405
We are pleased to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria has finally granted
you and others that have been unable to collect their funds from banks in the country
over the past 10 years a compensation payment.
Payments are being made in 3 categories and you are in the second batch list to receive
the sum of Two Million US Dollars. Payments will be made from our accredited bank 'Skye
Bank Plc' and you are to contact the Head of Account's Department at the Bank as below;
Contact Name: Steven Uyi
Contact Email: skye.claims01@yandex.com
Congrats and best regards,
Rodrigo da Silva
PUBLICE SERVICE MANAGER
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Anti-fraud resources:
