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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "your loan " (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- "au.loanscheme@w.cn" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- 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: AU SECGEN <au.secgeneral@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:41:51 -0700
Subject: We are ready to finance your payment
*LOAN IMPLIMENTATION COMMITTEE OF AFRICAN UNION (AU)*
*HQS –ABUJA-NIGERIA*
* *
* *
*Dear Sir/Madam,*
* *
*We take the liberty to introduce our product “AU LOAN SCHEME” to you. It is
a Short -Term Loan Organized by African Heads of States to help
Foreign CONTRACTORS,
INHERITANCE BENEFICIARIES and UN-REFUNDED SCAM CLAIMS to pay whatever is the
obligation causing Delay or Hindrance in their payment in any African
Country. *
* *
*OUR MAIN OBJECTIVES:** To Investigate, Represent, Defend and pay any
financial obligations withholding the release of your funds and to eliminate
Beneficiary’s Physical Appearance risk during payments in Africa and
Diaspora.*
* *
*For your Loan enquires contact:*
*MR.THANKGOD C. ABBAH*
*Director, AU Loan Scheme*
*Email: **au.loanscheme@w.cn***
*Tel: **+234 805 161 5242***
* *
*I hope you will be appeased with our loan scheme.*
* *
*Yours faithfully*
* *
*DR. F.W LEKWOT*
*Sec Gen of African Union (AU)*
* *
* *
* *
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Anti-fraud resources:
