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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)
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- robertcerter@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Robert Carter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertcerter@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:06:34 +0100
Subject: Patment Notification no Any Upfront Payment
Reply to: robertcerter@yahoo.com.cn
>From the Desk of Dr.Robert Carter.
Dear Sir,
I work as a telex officer with the central bank of Nigeria. I have very good news for you but it all depends on your willingness to respond to this mail. After the death of our former president. Our new president has published in the official gazette that All contractors/Next of Kins that are still being owed by the federal government for a very long time should be paid off without any upfront payment.
I know that this is just an act of God because the new president has come to redeem the image of our dear country.Meanwhile,i want to tell you that if you are interested to partake in this payment exercise, i will advise you to send as quickly as possible, your current bank account details where you want this fund to be transferred into since your name is among the names of the contractors/Next of Kin that was published for Payment. Please there is no bank charges as this instruction is from the presidency.
Truly yours,
Robert Carter.
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