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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 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)
- "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 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: "Aderemi Babalola" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ministry.of.finance.office111@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:19:24 -0700
Subject: APPROVED FROM OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
PPROVED FROM OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
ABUJA - CAPITAL CITY NIGERIA.
Your ref ::::::::;PAYMENT CLEARANCE .
Our ref :::::::::;FGN/2009-10/PAYMENT /2010
Nice To Meet You
your file appears in my desk two days ago . Through FMF office That
you are among people that (Mr President) approved to be paid half payment of $8million
dollars. Signed by the New President of Federal Republic of Nigeria,other by
President Goodluck Jonathan. I need your above information, to confirm
with the one we have already here in our file, if you are the rightful
owner to be paid. A private Holder A broker in banks A director in any
office or company A high investor of and compay Name In
1)Your beneficiary full name and address (2) Your mobile phone number
4) Profession, sex, age and marital status.(5) Working I’d/Int'l passport.
6) Beneficiary Name.(7) Bank details
Yours Faithfully,
Aderemi Babalola
Honorable Minister of State Finance
Federal Republic of Nigeria
CALL NOW FOR CONFIRMATION...............+234-8077299063
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