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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Susan Moses" <acdishan@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 23:38:24 +0100
Subject: APPROVAL OF US$8.5M IN YOUR FAVOR.
>From the Desk of: Director General
African Foreign Debt Management Council
To Dully Beneficiary,
Sir/Madam,
It delight this office to notify you of your overdue
contract/inheritance payment which you were denied over the
years by the African Region due to some reasons as indicated
in your payment file after much verification such as
duplication of account and demand of high fees by respective
agent and associate. In view of this, the Federal Ministry
of Finance in Collaboration with the African Union after the
just concluded submit of the African Union held in Ethiopia
has given an Approval for a Part Payment of USD8.5M to you.
You are advice to get back to this office with your full
name, address and direct telephone number within 48 hours to
claim your fund.
We use this opportunity to warn you against further
communication with any agent or associate as this might put
the entire Swift Transfer in lapses . This is for your own
interest and to protect the interest of this region from
being held reliably for your not receiving your fund within
the specific period of time as mandated by this commission.
Once again we congratulate you in advance.
Mrs. Susan Moses
Secretary
African Foreign Debt Management Council.
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Anti-fraud resources:
