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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "joseph_adekunle@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: " PAYMENT NOTIFICATION REGARDING YOUR FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <joseph_adekunle@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 05:25:50 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION REGARDING YOUR FUND
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION REGARDING YOUR FUND
DEBT RECONCILATION DEPARTMENT
Dear Beneficiary,
I write to officially notify you that after urgent meeting held between the Finance Ministry, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Presidency on Foreign Payment,
Sat 29th Sep 2012 in preparation for the 52nd Independence Anniversary. The Federal Executive council (F.E.C) has jointly approved the sum of US$500,000 to
you as part of your Compensation funds by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
It is very important for you to understand that these funds was approved to be paid to you BY ATM CARD PAYMENT Through Federal government subsidize fiduciary
agent CARD PAYMENT CENTER.As soon as you respond to this message. It may also interest you to know that you are not required to pay ANY fee to you receive
your ATM CARD .but MUST pay the required Insurance and postage fee involves to the Fiduciary Card Centre as soon as you receive your ATM CARD and confirm it
by yourself.
You should not delay to contact me on receipt of this message. Email joseph_adekunle@ymail.com
Yours faithfully
Mr Joseph Adekunle. Esq
Chairman, Debt Reconciliation Dept.,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
