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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "ambassadorjamesf.entwistle@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: JAMES F ENTWISTLE <fredwatt28@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: JAMES F ENTWISTLE <ambassadorjamesf.entwistle@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:17:01 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: OFFICE OF THE US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
 OFFICE OF THE US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
11 GARKI ROAD ABUJA
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
TEL. +234 9021689940
EMAIL.. ambassadorjamesf.entwistle@outlook.com
ATTENTION:
With all due respect, I am Mr. AMBASSADOR JAMES F ENTWISTiE) the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria report has rich to the U.S embassy by the Nigerian government that you have been dealing with imposters claming to get you compensation fund to you. Please you are advice to back up from any transaction you are having else where and do not send any penny to any body because the Nigerian Government has appointed me to handle every transaction and make sure each beneficiary receive his or her compensation fund.
You compensation fund of US$5Million (Five Million united State Dollars) has been approved on your Name by the Nigerian Government for been scam and I have been appointed to make sure you get the bank draft delivered to your house address. I shall be coming for an official meeting in Washington DC on 24th NOVEMBER and I will be coming with the bank draft so that as soon as I finish with my appointment on 24th I will be in your address to take you to your bank and deposit the check according to the instruction from the Nigerian Government so base on that you have to send me your Mobile telephone number and house address for easy Identification and safe delivery also a copy of your drivers License or ID.
The only thing required is just $120 for the registration of the check so that I will not have any problem with the custom as soon as I arrive to America so you are to proceed to western union or money gram and send the $120 for the registration so that as soon as it is done I will be able to com and hand it over to you on first when I arrive to your country.
Below is the information for the payment
Receivers Name………. NNAMDI OKAFOR
Text question…………..Color
Text answer……………Blue
Amount………………..$120
Location………………Lagos Nigeria
MTCN………………..
Senders Name………….
Please do your best to see that the payment is made today so my secretary can be able to register the bank draft before I take off and note that with out the registration of the parcel I will not be allowed to live the country with the bank draft so you do your best to see that the payment is made and get back to me with the payment information as soon as it is done. Have a nice day.
Do not forget to send me you house address and mobile telephone for safe delivery. Waiting to hear from you soon.
AMBASSADOR JAMES F ENTWISTiE
US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
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