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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "citibank@citi-bank.us.tf" (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.
- 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: "GOODLUCK JONATHAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gej7131@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 00:49:14 +0800
Subject: RE: PLEASE CLARIFY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
From:"The Office of the Presidency"
And Debt Reconciliation Payment Report and Immediate Fund Remittance.
Address: Aso - Rock Villa "Presidential Guest House, Wuse Zone II Abuja - Nigeria.
Tel: +234-808-994-0596
Our Ref: FGN/PRE/VP/XNX/2015.
Attn: Fund Beneficiary ,
AFTER MY INVESTIGATIONS IN CBN AND OTHER BANKS IN NIGERIA FEW DAYS AGO I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSFER/DELIVERY OF YOUR FUND IN NIGERIA DUE TO SOME CORRUPT STAFFS/OFFICIALS IN NIGERIAN BANKS.
SEQUEL TO THAT, I HAVE CONTACTED THE NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON DC AND CITIBANK IN WASHINGTON DC TO DEBIT $5M FROM OUR OIL RESERVE ESCROW ACCOUNT,THEN CREDIT IT INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT AS YOUR PART PAYMENT.
THEREFORE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT CITIBANK IN WASHINGTON DC THROUGH THEIR CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS GIVEN:
( citibank@citi-bank.us.tf ) THEN FURNISH THEM WITH YOUR FULL BANK DETAILS FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF YOUR $5M PART PAYMENT.
RESPECTFULLY,
DR.GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN ( GCFR )
PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
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