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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 state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Chris Ngige" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drchris.4senate@live.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2012 07:47:00 -0800
Subject: Business Proposal
Dear Good day,
I am Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, former Governor of Anambra State and was on June 2011
sworn in as Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I am the present Director of foreign contract payment and sincerely need your
assistance to claim and receive fund worth Fifty Million United State Dollars (US$50,000,000.00) arose from over-inflated contract awarded by Nigeria's Ministry of Finance to a foreign firm.
I have fashioned out a foolproof plan to successfully transfer the funds to an account belonging to a foreigner who will act as the contractor/beneficiary of the fund.
I want to front you as the beneficiary of the fund and 20% will be your compensation for this assistance and you shall keep my share 80% safely in your bank account for investment in your country. This business is risk free, safe and confidential
I await your response
Kind Regards,
Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige
http://www.ngige.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
