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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "TUNDE LEMO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tunde_lemo1955@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 02:03:28 -0700
Subject: FOREIGN PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
Dear Sir/Madam,
We hereby acknowledge receipt of your reply email with respect to the above stated subject.
We are pleased to confirm to you that your payment is among those approved for final settlement by the joint reconciliation committee of the Bank for International Settlement and the Federal Government. A total sum of US$800M has been set aside to cover the settlement of the approved beneficiary including you. The fund is currently in an escrow account at our correspondence bank in Europe. Final transfer of your due amount will be executed by the HSBC through MT103 to your nominated bank account as soon as we finalize payment reconciliation and have you sign the originals of the Fund Release Order (documents) at the premises of our bank or the Ministry of Finance or authorized officials of International Bank of Settlement in Europe or United States.
Meanwhile, you are hereby requested to recon firm to us through email, your bank account details including the swift code, telephone number and email address of your bank account officer. You should also include your current telephone number and a copy of your identity.
Thanks.
Tunde Lemo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
