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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OFFICE <mrslucycart02@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 15:03:07 +0100
Subject: Merry Christmas and Good news to you.
OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF FEDERATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (ABUJA)
OUR REF:AGFRNXXX176 YOUR REF:.........................
Date:6th December,2016
Merry Christmas and Good news to you
This letter is to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria
has approved your long expected payment through the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL
OFFICE OF THE FEDERATION for December, 2016.
Your file was review today in line with the directives of the WORLD
BANK in our agreement memorandum to release your long expected fund
to you through CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT,as we prepare to end the last
fiscal payment roundup for the year 2016 season.
Also,our investigations confirms and proved that you have been
involved with illegal Transactions/Dealings in the past with some
hoodlums in Nigeria whom you have paid a lot of money in the process
with the promise to release your fund to you as we have confirmed
during our investigations exercise carried out .
But the good news here is that you have been approved to receive your
long expected payment now this last fiscal payment season as part of
our promise and agreement to the World Bank and other international
agencies during our last concluded meeting in Geneva Switzerland in
our crusade to fight against corruption in AFRICA and Nigeria.
Here is enclose BANK DRAFT ATTACHED to your name and we advice you get
back for the hard copy.
Mr.Ahmed Idris
(Accountant General of the Federation)
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Anti-fraud resources:
