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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Dan Efebo <efeboodan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: danfebo@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2021 02:48:16 +0100
Subject: Kindly revert soonest for details.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My colleague and I over-invoiced a contract award to the tune of
$25.5MUSD and the payment approval has been issued for immediate
payment and transfer of the funds. I want you to stand as the
beneficiary of the funds. All we need do immediately is duly obtained
necessary papers in your favor as the beneficiary and forwarded same
to the paying bank for immediate payment/transfer.
Note; this process will take few days; and release/transfer of same
funds will be within 48 hours from the day payment documents are
forwarded to the paying bank.
I want to assure you that there is no risk involve. The paying bank is
waiting for us to present you as the beneficiary to enable them
release and transfer funds to your nominated bank account.
If you are willing to assist, kindly reply with your full name;
business name; address (residence/office); your ID, and telephone
number to enable us commence this process immediately.
Please treat this transaction with the utmost confidentiality.
Await your immediate response or call me on my direct phone number for
verbal talk.
Regard,
Dan EFEBO.
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Anti-fraud resources:
