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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:
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found 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: Engr Ahmed
Reply-To: <mohamed20015@r7.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2015 13:40:20 +0100
Subject: RE: REPLY.
This is just for your eyes
Attention: Partner.
This business is a business that needs the full cooperation and should be kept top secret between you and me
1. I am the General Auditor of the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
) My names are Ing. Mohammed My assistant is Engr Gerald Ekeoma
We have a huge amount we have to present him as a foreign partner to perform the contracts before the outbreak of fire at our headquarters in Ejibgo.
You and I know that you do not run any contract but now that the new president of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has ordered payment to contractors as directed by the pressure of the international community, since there is no real proof of the contractors involved in this contract and the fact that I am in charge as director to seek their consent before you as one of the contractors to get paid.
NOTE: I told you from the beginning that this is an agreement should be retained highly confidential.
Once the money reaches your account you will take 30% of amount and give us our 70%.
I say that is going to spend some money to fund this BUSINESS NOTES.
NOTE: This operation is 100% risk free as soon as I hear from you I will give more details of the contract amount.
Reply to my persomal Email: mohamed2015@r7.com
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in advance.
Eng. Mohammed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
