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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: officedept <sen.sanubello@gmail.com>
Reply-To: office501office@daum.net
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2021 08:11:55 +0100
Subject: USA Ambassador to Nigeria !!
From Office of USA Ambassador to Nigeria
Plot 1075 diplomatic drive
Central district
Area, Abuja
Dear Sir/Ma,
After an official meeting held with the president of Nigeria president
Buhari concerning unpaid and unclaimed funds to foreign
beneficiaries, I was very much annoyed when I found out from your file
that you paid so much money yet you have not still receive your
compensation funds for that reason I decided to help you personal get
you're fund.
My name is Ambassador James F. Entwistle the Immediate Past USA
ambassador to Nigeria I shall be coming to the Country by next week
for an official meeting regarding the PANDEMIC and will be bringing a
bank draft of US$3,500,000.00 (Three Million Five Hundred United State
Dollars only) which the ministry of finance has sign on your name.
I shall be coming along with the check/cash through Presidential
Diplomatic Mission Air-plane to the Country this time I will not go
through customs as Ex.USA Ambassador to Nigeria with Immunity, I am a
USA Governmental agent on Covid-19 member and I have the veto power
to go through any where in this world without verification of the
customs officials.
I have help three beneficiaries from united state of America and other
Countries this year to get there fund without any problem and you are
the fourth person I am helping now. the three individual who has
already receive the fund through my assistance are below Mrs. Antonio
smith---------- Maryland USA Mr. Roy Jerry-------------North Carolina
USA and marlin Jones --------Atlanta Georgia the above mentioned are
the three persons who has received there fund by my assistance in
January and I cant see why yours will not be possible. Base on that
you are to send me your bellow information for the delivery of your
fund by next week as soon as I come for the meeting. Your details
required are bellow.
1. Your full name
2. Cell phone number
3. Address where you want me to bring the package
4. Scan International Passport or driver's license.
I know quit well from your file that you have really paid so much on
this delivery that makes me wonder why you are yet to confirm your
payment but thank God for his devain intervention I shall be bringing
it myself and there is nothing anyone can do about it your package
worth ($US$3.5M) must be registered as an ambassadorial package for me
to defeat all odds through the Nigerian Government.
The cost of registering is just $430 as paid by orders who just
receive there fund presently. The fee must be paid in the next 72
hours via western union or money gram so that all necessary
arrangement can be made before time will be against us. you are to
contact my secretary Fortunate Nwachukwu for the registration of the
check:
Receiver Name: Vivian Ofulue
Address: Lagos,Nigeria
QUestion: For What
Answer: Registration
The total amount for everything is $430.00 (Four Hundred and thirty
USD.) We have tried our possible best to indicate that this $430.00
should be deducted from the total sum but we found out that the funds
have already been deposited at Bank and cannot be accessed by anyone
except the legal owner (you).
I shall send you my flight schedule as soon as the registration is
done for you to know when exactly I will be leaving. You can go
through my website and read biography:
(http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html)
Note: as soon as I arrive your country I will call you so that
immediately I finished with my meeting I will be coming to your
address to hand over the check to you and also to let you know that I
will be going to your bank with you to deposit the check with all the
approved document backing up the check and I will make sure the check
clear in 3days before I live.
Yours Sincerely
Ambassador James F. Entwistle
USA Ambassador to Nigeria
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