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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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: "Rev.Thomas Duru" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.thomasduru11@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2018 17:43:36 +0300
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED
PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN CONTRACT VERIFICATION
AND RECONCILIATION
TEL:234-907-312-1409
Dear beneficiary,
We have been informed that your outstanding inheritance funds with the Federal Government are yet to be received due to non-fulfillment of the legal required obligations as approved in respect of your inheritance. On this reconciliation, we discovered that you've been dealing with non officials of the bank and agencies on the attempt to secure the release of your inheritance funds. We wish to bring to your notice that we are neck deep to check this misconduct by these impostors who slight down our dignities to international communities.
With the combine effort of the United Nations Anti-crime commission to alleviate and redeem the image and heal the wounds of some foreigners and firms who were defrauded of their money on the course of trying to receive their contract payment or inheritance fund.
The Federal Government is already compensating each of the victim with $5,000,000.00
You are advised to provide us with the below information.
1. Your full name.
2. Phone and fax number.
3. Address
4. Your age and current occupation
5. A copy of your driver’s license or international passport.
Your information will be forwarded to the paying bank for immediate processing and release of your payment without any further delay.
Note: That because of imposters, we hereby issued you our code of conduct, which is (289-A1) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the card center.
REV. THOMAS DURU.
CHIEF AUDITOR TO THE PRESIDENT
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Anti-fraud resources:
