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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- donalduba2@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: John Njoku <john_njoku21@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:16:48 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Mr. Donald Uba
Director of Procurement Nigerian
Telecommunication Plc
Dear Sir,
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
I am the Director of Procurement, Nigeria Telecommunication Plc (Nitel) and a close associate of present director of finance. I want to seek for your assistant in a confidential business assistance which will benefit both of us within a shortest time base on your acceptance
There is an over invoiced contract amount of Seven Million Two Hundred thousand United States Dollars only ($7.2M) left in my department from a contract awarded to a German company for underground laying of telephone communication wires because of ongoing privatization of Nigerian companies which Nigeria telecommunication is among I decided to transfer the said amount to a reliable person account overseas like you for safe keeping hence we are not allowed to operate foreign transaction as civil servants
The said amount is intact in our zenith bank account base on your acceptance further procedures shall be discussed the transaction is 100% risk free
Reply via: donalduba2@gmail.com
Thank you very much for your understanding
Waiting for your response
Mr. Donald Uba
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Anti-fraud resources:
