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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrsahburari@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Mrs. Veronica Amadi JP" <honest@vero.org>
Reply-To: alhajiusmantanko@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:47:05 +0100
Subject: RE: PAYMENT
Dearest,
This might come to you as a surprise but what I'm about telling you is nothing but the reality about your fund which has been held for so long with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Do you know that all the money you have been sending to the officials for one certificate clearance or the other is being used against you? well this might sound strange but am taking this bold step because of my religious belief as a Christian. The truth is there a lots of forces working against you right from the last central bank Governor and the current Governor with other top officials of all the commercial banks in Nigeria,they have been frustrating you by delaying your payment. There is a way I can assist you get your fund without further delay and avoid unnecessary expenses,it is risky on my own-side to exposes the secret of authorities but one has to take it because I am not happy as things is going against a humanity, I have directed many people through this way,and they receive their long awaited outstanding payment.
Get back to me as soon as you get this mail so that I will be in a better position to know what to do. Waiting for your immediate reply to this address ( mrsahburari@hotmail.com ).
Yours sister in the lord
Dr.Mrs. Veronica Amadi JP.
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Anti-fraud resources:
