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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick Lazarus" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frafnkl@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:07:11 -0700
Subject: Attention
Attention:
Compliments of the day to you and your entire family. I am the chairman Contract certification Committee, Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria. I am seeking
for a very trustworthy foreign person to fully and sincerely co-operate with me in
the transfer of huge amount of money into a very safe account.
Corruption is high here and the government is trying to play it down so as to
discourage foreign collaboration but its a known fact here that this is what all
opportune d government officials does here hence the flight of capital from here to
other countries of the world.
This money was part of the contract awarded to some foreign companies which was
duly executed and some contractors in that category have been fully paid while
others have not been paid,it is those unpaid ones that we will now want to get out
of the country. It will be mutually beneficial to both of us if you accept,I will
use my power and position as the chairman of the above committee to include your
name or your company’s name as one of the contractors/beneficiaries whose contract
has been completed but awaiting payment.
After you received the said funds in your designated account,we shall use part of
the money to invest in properties or in any other lucrative investment
opportunities in your country.
If you accept to do this business with me and receive the said funds into your bank
account, you will be required to :-
(1) Assist in the transfer and receiving of the said funds into your bank account.
(2) Advise on lucrative areas of investment opportunities.
I shall furnish you with further information about this transaction as soon as you
indicate interest.
As soon as I receive below requested info from you today we shall proceed with this
transaction.
1. Your Full Names:
2. Your Contact address:
3. Your personal phone number:
Treat this with seriousness and confidentiality. Provided you are trustworthy and
never intend or try to cheat on me after you received this funds in your account.
Sincerely,
Patrick Lazarus
cail+2349021986188
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Anti-fraud resources:
