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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
- yl201075@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi" <off------51096@att.net>
Reply-To: sanusilamidosanusi46@yahoo.ca
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:01:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY
The President Committee On ATM card FCT, ABUJA.: OUR REF : FGN /SNT/STB
Dear Beneficiary,
You are officially informed that an ATM VISA Card numbered; 4280512001110686 valued at $10.3 MILLION USD. has been accredited in your favour.Please kindly contact the courier Delivering office with the information below and be rest assured that as soon as we receive all these you will receive your PARCEL within the next 48hours.
Your Full Name:
Your Current Delivery Address:
Your Current Phone Number:
Your Gender:
Your Age:
Your Current Occupation:
Country:
CONTACT : REV. THOMAS AMADI
EMAIL: yl201075@yahoo.com
DIRECT MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER: +2347082593164
NOTE:You have to contact the FedEx Courier Company immediately you receive this mail with the the following informations you are required to provide to avoid mistake during delivering.
Regards, AND YOU SHOULD CONTACT US AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MASSAGE FOR CONFIRMATION AND MORE DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS.
Dr Lamido Sanusi
Executive Governor
Central Bank Of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
