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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Johnson Douglas <johnsondouglas@maktoob.com>
Reply-To: johnson_douglas@freemail.hu
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:12:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: With reference to the CBN File No: 34567/IBN/2009
Attn: Sir,
With reference to the CBN File No: 34567/IBN/2009, The Ad-Hock Committee
have discovered that you are yet to claim your Money being payment of
your inheritance from your deceased relation's account deposit with a
liquidated Bank. Now we have the mandate of the central bank to manage
the assets and debts of the liquidated Banks.
The Federal Ministry of Finance under the Ad-Hock Committee has decided
that beneficiaries who are not yet paid should be paid immediately
through our International Bank Account with NATWEST BANK UK. We have
been advised to pay you in installmental of USD$250,000.00 each, by
certified bank cheque. Our NATWEST BANK UK Account would be debited
every three months in your favor until the debt is cleared.
You are required to send the contact address where you want the cheque
sent to, via our official courier. As soon as we receive your data as
requested below and verify that, the cheque would be sent to your
designated address. We would require the following information:
1. Beneficiary Full Name:
2. Contact Address:
3. Telephone Number:
4. Age:
5. Marital Status:
Your response will be highly appreciated.
Thanks.
Mr Johnson Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources:
