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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:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Charles Nduka" <mktmks@tresnamuda.com>
Reply-To: charlesnduka2017@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2018 04:24:54 +0700
Subject: my email to you
Dear Sir/Ma,
I am Mr.Charles Nduka,a senior director in the Nigerian Federal Ministry
Of Petroleum and Natural resources.
There is a contract fund in my ministry which has remained unclaimed for
years because the relevant legal documents to claim it legally was missing
hence the transfer of the fund was suspended indefinitely by the federal
government pending when all necessary legal papers or documents covering
the fund are provided by beneficiary of the fund.
Therefore,If you are interested to work with me then i want you to come
forward and claim this fund as as the true beneficiary and we shall share
the fund accordingly.with my position and your cooperation/understanding
all the legal documents backing the fund in your name/address as the true
beneficiary shall be legally obtained and documented for transfer and the
transfer of the fund shall take place immediately.
Please,note that there is no risk involved as long as you are able to keep
everything to yourself only and maintain absolute confidentiality now and
after you have received the fund.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Charles Nduka.
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Anti-fraud resources:
