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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "L. O. Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lordolashilejohnson@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2015 20:05:48 +0200
Subject: Re: Attn: Partnership
Dear Friend,
I am seeking your partnership for an investment in your country, I am representing Chief James Ibori Ex-Governor of Delta State "The Rich Crude Oil Region of West Africa" I have a very sensitive and confidential brief from this top (oligarch) to ask for your partnership in re-profiling fund worth US$56M. This is a legitimate transaction; you will be paid 20% for your "management fees".
Source of Funds: The fund derived from Crude Oil Lifted from his private Oil Well. During my client regime as a Sole Administration/Executive Governor of the State, he handle a lot of Crude Oil dealings and along the line he was arrested and charge for misappropriation of funds and purchasing of a Private Jet and in two occasion his wife was arrested by the British Authority trying to divert some fund across the United Kingdom.
Your Role:
All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of the above quoted sum and all deposit documents will be made available in your favor which will enable the Security Company hand over the entire deposit to you as the beneficiary. My client intends to use this sum to relocate abroad for a possible investment project after regaining his freedom. See the related sites for confirmation of this issue.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7141047.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/apr/17/nigeria-governor-james-ibori-sentenced
If you are interested, please write back and provide me with your confidential telephone number and email address and I will provide further details and instructions. Please keep this confidential; we can't afford more political problems. Finally, please note that this must be concluded within two weeks. Waiting your response,
Regards
Lord O Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
