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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 united states 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. T. Christopher" <info@harmonyyogadance.com>
Reply-To: tundechristopher@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:51:18 +0000
Subject: Attn: MD/CEO
Mr. Tunde Christopher
N.N.P.C. Contract Award Committee Chairman.
Lagos, Nigeria.
RE: OVER INVOICED CONTRACT TRANSACTION.
I would like to use the name of your company to receive the sum of Seventy Eight Million United States Dollars ($78M) which I deliberately over nvoiced.
You are receiving this fund as a sub contractor who has not been paid and will produce all the relevant/original documents that will make you the eneficiary of this fund without any risk attached.
This transaction is confidentiality, honesty and courage demanding. In as uch as it is a deal, it is 100% risk free now and in future.
As a senior staff under the NNPC and as a civil servant, our constitution oes not allow me to operate a foreign account; this was just why I have o contact you. Please you have to cover my identity and help me in chieving this life-long dream.
Get back to me by mail if you are interested and provide a reachable elephone number so that we can talk things over.
Sharing Formula:
Account owner (You): 40%, (Me): 60%.
Yours truly,
Mr. Tunde Christopher
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Anti-fraud resources:
