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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment unit" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- revdominicbriggs@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN GCFR" <dr.goodluckjonathangcfr1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2014 23:20:41 +0100
Subject: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN GCFR
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF ARMED FORCES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ASO ROCK VILLA ABUJA
Cablegram: presidency
ATTN: Honorable Beneficiary
Re-Immediate Payment of US$10.5 Million of Your Inheritance Funds.
This is to inform you that the Presidency has stepped into the payment
of your inheritance funds with the Federal Government of Nigeria due
to the complain you the beneficiary's make to United Nations and World
Bank to sanction Nigeria Government not to have any other business
relationship with any country till we settle all our outstanding debts
own to you foreign contractor's.
A meeting was held at the World Bank in Switzerland regards to this
sanction from the UN and World Bank for the settlement of this debts
own to you contractor's, I wish to inform you that an ATM MASTER CARD
worth of US$10.5Million has been issued in your favor.
You are to come down here in Nigeria for the collection of this ATM
MASTER CARD. But alternatively if you can not make the trip here in
Nigeria for the collection of this ATM CARD with a genuine reason, you
are to bear the cost of US$365.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty Five United
States Dollars Only) for the dispatchment fee. You are advice to
contact only Chairman Foreign Payment Unit Rev.Dr.Dominic Briggs
ithis direct Telephone number +234-806-5466-385 Fax: 234-1-3421253
Email: (revdominicbriggs@aol.com) for the collection of this
US$10.500.000.00 ATM CARD. In your response to him, you must send him
the following information as listed below.
1. Full name
2. Phone and Fax number
3.Your Office address
Note that your corporation towards this matter will help us a lot in
regaining back our position with the World Bank and be advise to stop
any further contact with any office that is previously handling your
payment they are not in position again to handle your funds in other
not to jeopardize your effort of receiving this funds.
DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA GCFR.
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