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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:
- "the required fees" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (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: "Mr Ure Peters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrurepeters101@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:51:42 +0100
Subject: Atten Beneficiary
Atten Beneficiary,
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have instructed our bank to contact you for the immediate release of your compensation fund ($7.5Million) from the federal government of Nigeria as one of the scam victims. Be informed that your fund is now in our custody.We will like you to reconfirm your bank account details to us immediately to avoid any mistake during the transfer of your funds.You should also send $350 for the telegraphic screen charge of the transfer of your funds.We have already programmed your funds in our telegraphic monitor for immediate release to your nominated bank account. Be informed that we do not accept delay when huge amount of money is being programmed in our telegraphic monitor for security reason. You are advised to send the above fees and also reconfirm your bank account details immediately.We will send you your transfer confirmation slip once the transfer is done. Be informed that $350 is the only fees you will be ask
ed to pay till you receive your f
Send the required fees with the information bellow.
Receivers name: Cyril Nweke
Address: Lagos Nigeria
Text Q: Very
Answer: Urgent
Yours sincerely,
Mr Ure Peters
Director international remittance
Unity Bank Plc Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
