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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:
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "UNION BANK OF NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <foropunionbank@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2017 13:43:04 -0300
Subject: WITHHELD PAYMENT RELEASE.
RE: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
This is to bring to your notice and urgent attention that this Office (foreign operations) today received instructions with payment I.D Number HC2X14964K, Contract/Inheritance Payment Category “C” Special from the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE directing us to effect payment of an approved sum of US$750,000.00 to you with immediate effect via our ATM VISA CARD.
Your funds have been programmed for payment with the following information:
(1) Foreign Exchange Control Rate: =R=320.9 to $1 USD (Bank rate)
(2) Payment Voucher No: 10567HK2 1629CH
(3) Payment Control No: 2664CF - E XX1094F
(4) Status: E Civil
(5) Type of Payment: Atm visa card
(6) Type of Currency: United States Dollars
(7) Mode of Payment: ATM CARD DELIVERY
(8) Schedule for Payment within: 3days.
You are strongly advised to forward to this office the requested information for verification and delivery of your atm card.
1.Full name:
2.Phone number:
3.Delivery address (not postal address):
4.Age:
5.Gender:
6.Mobile phone number:
7.Valuable ID (Int'l passport, driver's license) etc.
Note that wherein you are unable to come in person to the premises of the bank for collection of your atm card, you are required to pay the sum of $185 only being charge for the courier of your atm card to your designated address. This fee is not deductible because we are prohibited by the notice from the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE to deduct any fee or charges from the approved sum.
Failure to respond to this message within the next 72hrs will be understood as your non-interest in the claim and we will proceed to terminate the claim 7days after.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. David Ogundipe
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Anti-fraud resources:
