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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million us 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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "revchrismartinss@live.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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "REV CHRISMARTINS'S" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revchrismartinss@live.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:29:12 -0500
Subject: FROM: REV CHRIS MARTINS'S ...............YOU ARE BLESSED
Contact Information
Address: Amazing Grace Plaza , 2E-4ELigaliAyorinde.
Lagos Victoria Ireland Nigeria
Telephone: +2348165-4422-01. +234708399-7398
Text: “33923”Email:revchrismartinss@live.com
Date: 21/2/2013
Dear Sir/Madam.
I want to inform you that your outstanding payment of $10.5Million US
Dollars, which has been with our Central paying office from United
Nations has been sign out for payment after series of meeting with our
board of directors.
Also this payment will come to you via ATM Master CARD or Bank Transfer,
We want to conclude all payment before the Six month of 2013 runs out.
bellow are the information required.
(1) Your FULL NAME
(2) Your HOUSE ADDRESS
(3) Your DIRECT PHONE/OFFICE
(4) Your AGE
(5) Your OCCUPATION
(6) Your Passport
Thanks and Congratulations
I wait your urgent response.
Thanks and remain bless
Rev Chris Martins's
Director ATM Swift Card/Foreign Operation Dept,
Central Bank of Nigeria CBN.
Contact No: +2348165-4422-01
CC: Federal Bureau of Investigation
CC: National Central Bureau of Interpol
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Anti-fraud resources:
