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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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- 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: "Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nokonjoiweala41@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:31:56 +0800
Subject: YOUR FUND TRANSFER
Attn;Beneficiary,
We are sorry that your Fund which was Transferred into your Account has not reflected. Citibank of Nigeria just called in regards to your Fund, that they made a wrong Transfer,They Account your Fund was Transferred to,was not your own Account but has the same first Name and Last Name.However they have put a stop on the Transfer after discovering that it was a wrong Account.The board of Director of Citibank had a brief meeting and have concluded to transfer your Money to you through a means of an ATM Visa Debit Card.
Your Total Amount will be uploaded into an ATM Card the sum US$5.3Million ( Five Million Three Hundred United State Dollars only) without wasting more time i will be glad to have your Full details such as:
1. Your Full contact Address
2. Your International passport or Drivers License
3. Your Direct Mobile Phone Number
4. include your total amount expected
5.
I will be forwarding your details to the bank that will be transfering your total funds to you via ATM Card.
I EXPECT YOUR CALLS ON MY DIRECT LINE, PHONE NUMBER BELLOW.
Thank you.
Best Regard
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Finance Minister of Nigeria
TEL;+234-709-870-2321
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Anti-fraud resources:
