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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS FARIDA WAZIRI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <efcc_2010@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:07:23 +0800
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: MRS FARIDA WAZIRI 06
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI LAGOS NIGERIA.
Motto: No Body is Above the LAW
FROM THE DESK OF: MRS FARIDA WAZIRI
BEWARE OF THE INTERNET FRAUDSTARS
Attn: Mr. (Honorable Contractor)
This office had received report from the F.B.I and the C.I.F on the rapid growth of internet Fraud from Nigeria.
We have taking order from the office of the Presidency to contact all foreigners that is indebted by Nigerian Government and advice them to stop every communication in Nigeria or Overseas in
Connection with contract payment or otherwise for security reason.
To this effect we have a mandate from the E.U and United Nations to ratify this issue and
Recommend all funds for payment through bank wire transfer.
We therefore, advice you to submit to this office all necessary information concerning your contract for verification and recommendation.
Note that due to the irregularities happening in Central Bank of Nigeria and others Bank in oversea and high rate of their transfer charges we have decided to work with our corresponding bank which will be made known at the appropriate time.
On behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and FBI, UNITED NATION, we apologies for all the inconvinences you may have gone through.
You have to indicate your contract sum and amount you have spend so far to your pending fund.
We need your below information.
1: YOUR FULL NAME
2: YOUR HOME ADDRESS
3: YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER WERE YOU CAN BE REACH AT ALL TIME
4:YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION.
As soon as we receive all your details we shall give you the direction to receive your pending Fund with out any form of delay.
MRS FARIDA WAZIRI
CHAIRMAN: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (E.F.C.C).
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Anti-fraud resources:
