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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "once we receive the payment" (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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE <imfifra10@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:23:18 +0200
Subject: Your over due payment
IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE ESMOND MICHEAL
DIRECTOR; IMF World Regulatory Office.
ATTENTION:PROVISION OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR LEGAL COVER/ PROTECTION OF US$15.5M IN YOUR FAVOUR.
AFTER THE MEETING TODAY, WE HAVE REDUCE THE PAYMENT FOR THE CLEARENCE CERTIFICATE TO $105 SO THAT YOU CAN MEET UP WITH THE PAYMENT. PLEASE YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 24HOURS TO DO THIS PAYMENT SO THAT WE CAN RELEASE YOUR $15.5M USD IN OUR CARE. SO WE ADVICE YOU TO PAY THE $105 THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM WITH THE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ME.
PLEASE YOUR NAME HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR PAYMENT. PLEASE KNDLY SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT TODAY. WE ASSURED YOU THAT THS IS THE ONLY AND LAST PAYMENT AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS 2018 WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO PAY OUT YOUR FUND ONCE WE RECEIVE THE PAYMENT OF $105 ONLY.
MY GOOD FRIEND YOU HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH. I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE ROAD AND YOUR FUND MUST BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT TODAY.
NAME: MR UDENTA CHUKWUEMKA
TEXT QUESTION: GOOD
TEXT ANSWER: BEST
AMOUNT: $105
ADDRESS: LAGOS STATE /NIGERIA
PLEASE GO AND SEND IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEND TO ME THE PAYMENT SLIP DETAILS IMMEDIATELY.
WE AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY TODAY
ESMOND MICHEAL
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Anti-fraud resources:
