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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "diplomatic security company" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- efcc_efcc1info@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <efcc_efcc1info@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:11:55 -0600
Subject: WETING YOUR RESPONSE FROM ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
15A AWOLOWO ROAD, IKOYI
LAGOS NIGERIA.
Motto: No Body is Above the LAW
(Security watch)
FROM THE DESK OF MR. IBRAHIM LAMORDE
Date: 8TH DECEMBER 2012
Tel...+2348034608215
ATTENTION:
Due to our recent findings,we found out that you have been scammed by some Nigerians and also we will require you to brief TO us on how you were been scammed and also to provide to us with some proof before we can now process your payment from the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION OFFICE here in Lagos Nigeria.
Contact Email: efcc_efcc1info@yahoo.co.jp
FILL IN THE BLANKET
YOUR FULL NAME;
YOUR ADDRESS:
YOUR OCCUPATION:
YOUR COUNTRY:
YOUR ID CARD:
YOUR STATUS:
YOUR PHONE NUMBER;
YOUR EMAIL:
And you are to choose below the method of payment you want.
1.Certified BANK DRAFT which can be withdrawned anywhere in the world and the amount is USD$2.5 Million Usd which will be sent via (SWIFT COURIER)
2.Trunk of money (Consignment) which will be sent through a Diplomatic security company which will be escorted by DIPLOMATS.
Please note that The federal government of Nigeria is using this opportunity to compensate the entire victim who some Nigerians has scammed.
THIS IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY THE EUROPE /AFRICA GOVERNMENT.
Thanks for your co-operations
Yours faithfully,
MR. IBRAHIM LAMORDE
CHAIRMAN,
Economic & Financial Crime Commission(EFCC
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Anti-fraud resources:
