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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:
- "please endeavor to " (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: United Bank Of Africa International <gov.info.cbn@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wire20171@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:48:19 +0100
Subject: URGENT
My Dear.
I am Frank Kelley, from Australian working with United Bank Of Africa
International of Nigeria under foreign affair department, I come cross your
file regard of fund payment. Please endeavor to give your full information
to enable me use my good office to rectify your fund release problem with
the Nigeria
I will be honest with you and promise to help you as well.I would want you
to take this transaction very serious and trust me
Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what we have in your record
and also re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, and mobile #.
3) Home address.
4) your full banking info.
5) Scanned copy of int'l passport.
As soon as this information is received, I will make sure your payment will
be made to you immediately, Trust me
Frank Kelley
Director Foreign Affair
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Anti-fraud resources:
