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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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mustapha Dangote" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aliumus.presidency@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2017 16:47:15 +0300
Subject: RE: Important Notice
Attention!!!
Dear Sir/Ma
This is to re-officially notify you that information of your unpaid contract/inheritance/Compensation entitlement has received attention of office of the presidency on foreign financial matters and also office of the minister for foreign affairs.
Be informed that the Federal Government through the federal high court of justice has duly certified you to receive your payment direct from the approved paying bank here.
The attached file herein is certificate of fund ownership issued in respect of your approved payment by the federal high court.
For record purpose, it is important that you confirm receipt of this message
Best Regards
Mr. Aliu Mustapha
For; Office of the Presidency
Foreign Financial Matters
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Anti-fraud resources:
