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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "abuja" (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: "RICHARD MADU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investigationdep.unitednation@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2017 07:57:20 +0100
Subject: THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER?.
EUROPEAN UNION MONETARY UNIT.
International Development Association.
21 Crescent of Constitution Avenue,Central
Business District,P.O.X 280 Garki Abuja-Nigeria.
JAUNARY : 2017/-19
PAYMENT FILE NUMBER/FGN/CB2017/.
Fund Beneficiary ,
After the meeting that was held with the International Bodies as we have confirmed your new Change of Account details for the onward transfer of your fund into your bank account.
Below is the Bank account we received in your favor.
Bank: BNP Paribas Fortis
Bankaddress: Londerzeel - Belgium
Accountnr.: BE42 0016 6350 6954
Accountholder: Vanderhaeghen Hurbert
We are waiting to hear from you before we speed up the transfer into this nominated bank account and make sure you keep all our communication secret and confidential to avoid any wrong payment to another person.
Thanks for your usual co-operation in this regards while we assure you of our esteemed services. I will be looking forward hearing from you soon.
Sincerely.
Mr. Owen Jones
EUROPEAN UNION MONETARY UNIT.
International Development Association.
21 Crescent of Constitution Avenue,Central
Business District,P.O.X 280 Garki Abuja-Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
