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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ali <gradonacalnik@opstinasopiste.gov.mk>
Reply-To: alimadu112@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 18:01:22 +0200
Subject: Project Planning
--
Hello Sir,
Introduction: My name is Mr. Alison Madueke the husband to Mrs. Dazieni
Alison the former Minister of Petroleum of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria during past regime of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the former
president of Nigeria.
Information : During her administration as the petroleum minister , she
made a huge deposit of Million of US$ in one of the Finance/security
company in around outside Nigeria ( Name withheld) for security reasons
because for some time now, she has been arrested by the Economic &
Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) but was later declared on an ASYLUM
there in the United Kingdom (UK) where she is facing a trial now with
British authority on MONEY LAUNDERING as below is a website to confirm
exactly what am telling you now;
*http://pulse.ng/local/diezani-alison-madueke-efcc-recovers-2-million-jewellery-from-ex-minister-associate-s-wife-id4967201.html
However, she has just passed an instruction to me SECRETLY that I should
look for a way to dispose the deposited FUND out of the security company
for security reasons by looking for a God fearing person oversea that
could be TRUSTED to retrieve this fund immediately from the security
company for investment hence all the vital documents relating to the
deposited funds are still in her possession and wouldn’t want to lose
the money for her present condition now hence most of her live earned
properties and even CASH DEPOSITS in her BANK ACCOUNTS there in Nigeria
and over-seas are already CONFISCATED by the government.
Please would I count on your indulgence and sincerity carrying out this
very project with me considering the huge amount involved and the
sensitivity of this issue now? I wish to have your prompt response just
to enable us proceed with the arrangement as I can assure you that there
is absolutely no risk involved if you can be able to keep the secret.
Above I will want you to get back to me with your identification and
contact information to enable me give you further information about the
business so that you can be presented to the company as the partner to
my wife that is meant to receive the investment funds as the new
beneficiary.
Thanks for your consideration and acceptance in this regard.
Mr. Alison Madueke.
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