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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:
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Thomas Kalu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomaskalu77@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 10:01:10 +0600
Subject: SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS 2015.
OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY
COMPENSATION OFFICE DEPARTMENT
SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS 2015.
ATTN: SIR/MADAM
SCAMMED VICTIM/REF/PAYMENTS CODE: FGN/PHBPLC/06765/2015
After the Presidential elections and electing of GMB(General Monhamadu
Buhari). We wish to notify you that decision has been made and all
corrupted officials has been eradicated.
I wish to notify you that the newly elected President and office of
the Nigerian presidency as a whole has been authorized to pay out to
30 innocent victims of the widely know internet scam called Advanced
Fee Fraud aka (419) the sum of US$95,000 (Ninety- Five Thousand
Dollars Only each).You have been listed and approved for this payment
as one of the scammed victims.
You are advised to contact us as soon as you can with the below
information so we can proceed to your payments.
SCAMMED VICTIM/REF/PAYMENTS CODE: FGN/PHBPLC/06765/2015
Amount: $95,000.00 only.
1) Your full name and residential address
2) Your direct phone number
3) Your file reference number
4) Your nominated account details where your funds will be transferred into
Thanks and stay blessed.
Yours Faithfully,
Thomas Kalu
PAYMENT OFFICER
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Anti-fraud resources:
