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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.
- 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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- mredwardrichard@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Edward Richard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mredwardrichard@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:41:03 -1200
Subject: Immediate ATM payment notification US$10.5M
Debt Management Board
Plot 12/14 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos - Nigeria
Attention: Beneficiary
Information received today in my office regarding your contract/inheritance Fund,a payment Order for $10.5m credit into ATM
CARD in your name from central Bank of Nigeria want to complete all their foreign payment reconfirm your info immediately so
that you can receive your own fund
Full Name...........................
address.........................
Phone.............................
0ccupation.....................
Country........................
A copy of your ID................
Right now i want to let you know how this Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar was originated to you, this money was
originated to you from Mr. William George my late client and this man works with NNPC PETROLEUM COMPANY here in West African
but this man is now dead. and he made it clear to us that this Fund should go to you as original beneficiary, and also this
man made it clear to us before he died saying to you that 30 % of this Fund should go to charity and poor mass immediately
you receive it so tell me do you agree with that? am looking forward for your reply if you agreed to do what Mr. Williams
George said.
Regards
Yours Faithful
Director, Remittance
Mr. Edward Richard
Email: mredwardrichard@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
