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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- senbukola.saraki11@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Senator Dr. Bukola A. Saraki" <emmy@lexington4.net>
Reply-To: senbukola.saraki11@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:59:49 -0200
Subject: Re: New Development on your funds!!
OFFICE OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
GARKI - ABUJA NIGERIA
From the Desk of:
SENATOR DR. BUKOLA A. SARAKI
SENATE RESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ABUJA - NIGERIA
E-MAIL: senbukola.saraki11@gmail.com
Attention: Beneficiary
This is to bring to your attention that your unpaid funds has been
arranged to be released to you via our paying bank in Madrid - Spain,
Switzerland or the United States of America directly into your account
but before we can proceed with this i will like you to kindly note that
Affidavit of Claim and AD VOW SON Clearance Certificate has been
mandated by the paying banks and as agreed with your government must be
obtained.
This arrangement was agreed between our government, the IMF, United
States Envoy to Nigeria and the United Nations representative during the
meeting which has been agreed that your full payment of
$10,500,000.00usd will be released to you without any further delay. Get
back to me to enable us proceed.
I wait your immediate reply.
Regards,
Senator Dr. Bukola A. Saraki
Senate President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources: