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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- unionbakng.ng@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George Gbolahan Duke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unionbakng.ng@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2017 23:07:17 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
HEAD OFFICE
Union Bank of Nigeria
STALLION PLAZA
36, Marina Lagos.
Sequel to the directive from the Federal Ministry of Finance to pay your withheld sum of $750,000 USD. An ATM Card Number worth USD$750,000 has been approved for release by the Union bank of Nigeria. You are to provide us with this information’s for verification and release of your ATM CARD for delivery. Do respond to our (unionbakng.ng@hotmail.com)
1.Full Name:
2.Phone number:
3.Delivery Address (not postal address):
4; Occupation
The courier cost for the shipment of your ATM CARD is $185 ONLY. No more fees will be charged after this payment. Please help us to serve you better.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. George Gbolahan Duke
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Anti-fraud resources:
