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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs joy Edet <emrsjoy03@ymail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:03:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
ATTN: BENEFICIARY
GOOD-DAY TO YOU. PLEASE I AM SORRY IF I DO
BULGE INTO YOUR CONVENIENCE BUT THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF THE SITUATION I
DISCOVERED YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE DISCHARGING MY OFFICIAL DUTIES WITH
THE PRESIDENCY.
FIRST, MY NAME IS DR. MRS. JOY EDET, PERSONAL
ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT SENATOR PIUS AYIM PIUS. WELL
WHILE I CAME TO THE OFFICE YESTERDAY MORNING MY BOSS AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE DIRECTED ME TO BURN DOWN ALL THE FILES IN HIS CUPBOARD AND DUST
THE ENTIRE OFFICE.
WHILE I WAS DOING THIS IT OCCURRED IN MY MIND
TO GO THROUGH ONE OF THE FILES BEFORE BURNING THEM SO WHILE GOING
THROUGH IT I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A CERTAIN PAYMENT OF
ABOUT $10.5 MILLION DOLLARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROGRAMMED IN AN
AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE POPULARLY KNOWN AS ATM CARD AND IT WAS DESIGNED
IN YOUR NAME AND
FAVOR.
I QUICKLY CONSULTED MY FELLOW STAFF IN THE OFFICE WHO
WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT AND MY BOSS AND HE TOLD ME IN CONFIDENCE
THAT THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED HIS SECRETARY SENATOR AYIM TO DESTROY THOSE
FILES SO THAT THEY CAN DIVERT THE FUNDS INTO THERE OWN DOMICILIARY
ACCOUNT ABROAD WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FEDERATION AS WHEN THE FILES
ARE BEEN SEARCHED FOR AND COULDN'T SEE THEM, IT WILL BE DECLARED THAT
THE PAYMENT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BENEFICIARY AS THERE WILL BE NO FILES
TO GET THIS CONFIRMED.
PLEASE DO KNOW THAT THIS VITAL
INFORMATION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE USE OF IT
FINE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO GET BACK TO ME AND I SHALL DIRECT YOU ON
HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CARD AND THE FUNDS CONFIDENTIALLY BUT IF YOU
DON'T NEED IT PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION TO ANYONE AS MY
LIFE AND JOB WILL BE AT STAKE FOR I KNOW MY COUNTRY AND THE LEADERS THEY
DON'T MIND TO ROT ME IN JAIL.
I
KNOW THAT I HAVE GIVEN OUT TO YOU A VITAL INFORMATION THAT WILL LEAD
YOU TO GREATER HEIGHTS IN FUTURE. LIKE I REQUESTED BEFORE, PLEASE LET
THIS MATTER REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR FILE AND CARD
ARE RIGHT NOW SAFE IN MY HOUSE AS I WILL KEEP IT FOR YOU UNTIL YOU
GET BACK TO ME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
MRS. JOY EDET
PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
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Anti-fraud resources:
