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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money-gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",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)
- "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. )
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- josephbroughton12@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Ibrahim Williams <ibroh12@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 10:40:47 +0100
Subject: A must read email.
CONTRACT CODE...FGN/PED/FGN-FMF/2967/09
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION.
Dear Bonafide Beneficiary,
Your transaction has been looked into for the delay. The Federal ministry of finance and the management of the EFCC ECOONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION have included meeting and your money will be released to your nominated bank account within 24 hours.
It has been observed that you are part of the scammed victims from the Prof Charles Soludo regime and Sanusi Lamido. 5,000,000 GBP has bee approved for your payment. This money will be sent to you via wire western union or money-gram which ever is most convenient to you. You are only required to pay the sum of 90 GBP. So you can sign the two important documents
so your wire can go.
You are only required to make contact with Mr Joseph Broughton. with your full names, phone # and house address. Who is in charge of American National’s payment here in Africa. So he can direct you accordingly. I hope this email meets you in good faith.
CONTACT NAME: JOSEPH BROUGHTON
EMAIL: josephbroughton12@yahoo.com
PHONE: +234 80 8566 5368
REGARDS,
IBRAHIM LAMORDE
EFCC CHAIRMAN.
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Anti-fraud resources:
