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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ebenezer N. Onyeagwu" <ebenezeroe37@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2022 23:04:56 -0800
Subject: PAYMENT,
Dear One,
We have been authorized to make payment to beneficiaries for the year
2022 for you to reconfirm your mailing address telephone number and a
clear copy of a valid driver's license or international passport that
will enable the (CBN) to initiate the process of your immediate
payment.
We make payment through a preloaded ATM master card which can be used
to make withdrawal in any ATM machine around the globe and your fund
with the accumulated interest is valued at 12.5 Million Dollars. This
is from the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with
the Federal Government of Nigeria, Your name and company was
discovered as next on the list of the contractors who have not yet
received their payments.
Please do not hesitate to ask questions if there’s any.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Ebenezer N. Onyeagwu
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO
Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
