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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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Zenith Bank International <69773w04t@gmail.com>
Reply-To: eebenezeronyeagwu@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2021 05:13:43 -0800
Subject: FIRST QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2021
Zenith International Bank Plc
ATM Visa/Swift Card Unit,
Tel: +234-8184756758
Attn: Fund Beneficiary,
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Zenith
International Bank Nigeria PLC has released your
Contract/Inheritance/Compensation Fund of Five Million
United States Dollars only ($5M) to you as the fund beneficiary.
We have credited your fund ($5M) into an ATM Visa Card which will be
sending to your doorstep by Courier Service on the provision of your
personal details. How to receive your ATM Visa Card; you are required
to reconfirm to me your personal details as follows:
Full Name;
Full Address (where you want to receive your ATM Card);
Occupation;
Country;
Phone Number;
Sex/Age;
As soon as you supply your contact information, your card will be
processed and the money credited into it for delivery. Please note
that the delivery fee of your ATM CARD shall be taken care of by you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Mr.Ebenezer Onyeagwu.
Executive Director, Zenith Bank
Tel: +234-8184756758
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Anti-fraud resources:
