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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- 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: "Rober Gul." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrrobertgluk11@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2016 15:17:49 +0200
Subject: Hello
Attn: Sir/Madam
I know this letter will be of a surprise to you. Let me start by introducing myself to you,I am Mr Robert Gulk personal assistant and also aid to formal Nigerian Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke., before we lost the election to opposition party In April 2015.
The new Nigeria Government headed by president Mohammed Buhari has been fighting the past Government officials . As I speak with you now the formal Petroleum minister and other formal government agencies that worked under the past Government including myself are under restriction all our traveling documents are seized.
The ruling opposition party have also frozen all our bank accounts and sized our properties . It is at this juncture that Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke. the formal petroleum minister contacted me to look for a foreign assistance that will help her secure some amount of money that was deposited in a security company oversea .
She will send to you the necessary documents as soon as you indicate your interest in assisting her in securing the funds as she is indisposed to do anything form where she is right now. other information will be given to you as soon as I hear from you. You will be rewarded handsomely for your assistance
I await your immediate responds on my private email address below.
Best Regards
Mr Robert Gulk.
Tel: +234-8062406364
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Anti-fraud resources:
