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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million pounds" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: John James Ibori <abohjohn78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: abohjohn22@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 07:07:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention: Sir / Madam
Attention: Sir / Madam
For who it may consign this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not meant before my name is John the son of James Ibori the former governor of Delta State in Nigeria my father have a problem with the London government because of the money laundry which there hold him in London.
The London government take my father to court because of the money laundry which there capture him after everything the court in London sentence my father 13 years imprisonment the London government have seize all my father access want of 300 Million Pounds.
My father told me that when he was a governor he deposited the sum of $65M dollars in a security company in Europe for self keeping my father told me to look for a honest person who will help me to go to the security company to claim this fund.
Because I don’t want anything to happen to this fund because if the London government or Nigeria government fine out that my father deposited such money in the security company in Europe the London government will seize the money and I don’t want anything to happen to the money.
This $65M dollars is only my father hope from now and I don’t want anything to happen to the fund that is why I am contacting you, I want you to help me to receive the $65M dollars to the security company in Europe because the London government are monitoring me any were I go.
All the vital document which you will use to claim the $65M dollars in security company in Europe will be process by my father lawyer and the lawyer base in London all the document will change to your name as the beneficiary of the fund.
As soon as you receive the $65M dollars I and my father lawyer will come down to your country for the sharing of the fund my father agree to offer you %40 for the total sum why 10% for any expenses and 50% for his owe.
If you are interested and willing to help me received this fund quickly and contact me immediately I want you to keep this letter confidential and secret I want you to send me this information below.
Your full Name
Your full address
Your private telephone number
Your occupation and position
Your full identification
Your age
As soon as I receive this information from you I will forward it to the lawyer to start processing all the document on your name as the beneficiary of the fund.
I am waiting for your urgent respond
Best Regard
John James Ibori
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