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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 united states 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: "Mrs.Alison-Diezani Madueke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <victoriapatrick@eircom.net>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2017 05:51:03 -0300
Subject: From: Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke
From: Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke.
Office: Former Petroleum Minister of Nigeria and OPEC Chairperson.
I am the above named person from Nigeria, presently staying in London.
I was former Petroleum Minister in Nigeria under the past
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and also the past OPEC
[Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] Chairperson. Presently
am undergoing treatments for breast cancer in the United Kingdom. I am
making this contact with you, based on reliable information i got
through a friend of mine here in the England about your reputation and
the company you represent.
Thus I am convinced you would be able to render your assistance in a
fund transfer for investment purpose and your cooperation of a very
huge sum of $120Million USD (ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) secretly lodged in a financial institution I acquired
during my office as the minister of Petroleum Resources in my country,
your help will be needed by me as my foreign partner to enable me
invest and own various properties in the stable economy like your
country.
All other information to facilitate the remittance of the funds will
be revealed to you in due course and for your assistance, you are
entitled to certain percentage from the total sum. As soon as I hear
from you I will give you full detail information you need to know
concerning funds.
I'm looking forward to it
Mrs.Alison-Diezani Madueke
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Anti-fraud resources:
