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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Ben Ezechi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ptf2012@kimo.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 04:50:19 -0400
Subject: Re: Very urgent response
Attention: Beneficiary,
This is to bring to your notice about the due process of your outstanding payment, which was suspended by the Federal ministry of Finance thereby stopping the telex unit to pause the transfer of your contract fund to your nominated Bank Account.
As a result of this development, verification conducted by the newly appointed Nigeria Finance Minister in conjunction with the Newly Appointed Member of Presidential Board of Trustee on Debt Verification Panel to contact you and let you Know that your payment file has been endorsed for release awaiting your confirmations. Your payment has been decided to pay via Standard Chartered Bank Plc.
In view of several efforts already made by us to contact you proved abortive. Based on the new Address submitted to this office on your behalf.
We need to confirm from you if Standard Chartered Bank Plc has credited your account with amount of US$15,500,000.00 Million United States Dollars as instructed for an immediate transfer to all beneficiaries who has an outstanding payment to collect. We are obliged to confirm from you if you have received the money from our corresponding bank the Standard Chartered Bank Plc to enable us close your file and put our record straight.
Awaiting your urgent response
Dr. Ben Ezechi
Director,
Payment & Verification Dpt.
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Anti-fraud resources:
