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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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: adiranmole0422@gmail.com
Reply-To: emailfile@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2016 06:19:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re: Payment of $2,500,000.00 USD
WELCOME TO (UBA) UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
Re: Payment of $2,500,000.00 USD
Dear Customer
I want to acknowledge you that we have finally succeeded in getting your package worth of $2.5million out of (ECOWAS) Economic Community of West African States department with the help of the Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Cotonou Benin which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in Benin.Meanwhile, every necessary arrangement has been made successfully for the delivery of your funds and every Document guiding your delivery is well updated so you are advised to reconfirm your full delivery information to enable us proceed the now.
Your Full Name:………………………
Your Current address:……………………….
Direct telephone Number:…………………….
Home/office# Fax:…………………………………..
State:…………………………….
Zip code:……………………
Closest Int. Airport:………….
Once this is confirmed I will proceed with delivery immediately.
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Mike Gabriel
Manager, United Bank for Africa (UBA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
