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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "central bank of nigeria" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barristerpeter_mbahesq@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Peter Mbah ESQ." <barristerpeter_mbahesq@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 04:27:37 -0800
Subject: I await to here your urgent reply
Barrister Peter Mbah ESQ.
PHONE:+234-706-836-7181
E-MAIL:barristerpeter_mbahesq@yahoo.com
Attn: Beneficiary
I am Barrister Peter Mbah ESQ Attorney to the Investigation
Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Office has
today the 10/2/2014 finished the investigation on your
unpaid compensation fee of $10M that has not been paid by
the Central Bank of Nigeria for a reason best know to them,
well today after the members meeting between the Bank and
the Presidency's Committee Board we are glad to inform you
that your Draft of $10M is now with the Investigation Office
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so you are requested to
get in urgent contact with I Barrister Peter Mbah ESQ for
the immediate release of your Draft of $10M and for your
information the Bank manager of the said bank has been fired
due to his inability of treating your case professionally by
law. You are requested to get in touch with the
Investigation Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
within the next 24hours for the update of your Draft release
and also reconfirm your postal address.
Investigation Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is
very sorry for the delay of your Draft by the Bank and we
promise to make sure that your Draft is released to you
within the next 48hours, that is if you are ready to
cooperate with the Investigation Office of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. You must keep this to yourself hence it
is only a fool who disclose his or her success to the
Public.
Thank You
Your Faithfully
Barrister Peter Mbah ESQ.
PHONE:+234-706-836-7181
E-MAIL:barristerpeter_mbahesq@yahoo.com
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