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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "equityonline@equitybanks.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Jessica Ezeh" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <equityonline@equitybanks.net>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:19:01 -0800
Subject: CONTACT EQUITY BANK TO RECEIVE YOUR $10.5M FUND TRANSFER:
This is to officially inform you today that your $10.5 million United States dollars fund which was deposited with the Eco Bank Of Kenya (EQUITYBANKPLC) by the Federal Ministry of Finance is to be transferred to you. It was mandated by the Ministry of Finance that your fund $10.5 million be registered and transferred with immediate effect. This fund release is the result of the recent meeting by leaders of the United Nations (U.N), European Union (E.U) and the African Union (A.U).
You are hereby advised to contact Equity Bank Of Kenya (EQUITYBANKPLC) today for the necessary clearances and transfer of your fund. Contact the bank director; Dr. Charles Aliyu and secure the transfer of your fund into your account.
Contact Person: Dr. Charles Aliyu
Email: equityonline@equitybanks.net
Phone: +254728734463
Email/call the bank immediately at the above information and reconfirm the below details for identification and clearance by the bank.
Your Full Names/-----
Address/------
City/-------
Phone Number/-----
Yours in Service
Mrs Jessica Ezeh;
Debt Management Board
Federal Ministry of Finance.
Kenya Rep
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Anti-fraud resources:
