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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- duckobasanjo@dr.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Duck Obasanjo <duckobasanjo1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:00:13 +0200
Subject: Very Urgent
My name is Mr. *Duck Obasanjo** *the director of finance & account here in
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I came across your Contract
file No 234/AA/NNPC/0026891, which states that your job has been concluded
but the money has not been fully paid. I have the opportunity to inform you
that the present government has reviewed all contracts overdue for payment
and have ordered for the pay off of all cleared files immediately.
The amount reflected as the balance payment is US$25,000,000 (twenty five
million American dollar) I am writing you to get a confirmation to this
regards as well as finalize how the payment shall be made to you.
I urge you to respond to this e-mail as soon as possible, if you have
further questions you can contact me personally on duckobasanjo@dr.com
I will appreciate your sincere response.
*Mr, Duck Obasanjo*
FINANCE DIRECTOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
