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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:
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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: "MR. JOHN WALKER" <policeinvesti@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.johnwalker@wss-id.org
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:02:51 +0100
Subject: RE:YOUR ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT FUND FROM CBN BANK
From: MR.JOHN WALKER
Director, NDIC Unit
CBN bank Nigeria Plc.
Tel: +234 8027747821
Attention:
How are you today and we are finally conclude your matter and the
directors said you should send $50 and pay the balance once you
receive your fund, so my dear you are advice you try your best and
make sure that you will send it today so that the diplomat will come
and deliver your Card to you immediately ok.
Send the fee to the below information and get back to me with the
payment details
Receiver Name: Kingsley Akubuiro
Receiver Address: Nigeria
Text Question: What For
Text Answer: For Good
On behalf of
CBN bank Nigeria Plc
MR.JOHN WALKER
Director, NDIC Unit
CBN bank Nigeria Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
