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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "info:" <unitednation.intl.fund@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:14:19 +0100
Subject: info@ first bank Nigeria
FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA
HEAD OFFICE MARINA LAGOS, NIGERIA
Exchange Manager/ Financial Control Dept
Private Banking Section Ext, 3
www.firstbanknigeria.com
CHANGE OF ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER FUNDS
Dear Bonafide Beneficiary
I wish to inform you that from the records of outstanding foreign payments
due for release to you before we have just received an account from one
Robert Marengere of Canada stating that you have authorized him to forward
this account with Citibank for immediate transfer of your funds as your
next of kin so we have decided to confirm from you before any step.
So therefore kindly confirm to us urgently before the transfer will take
place as we shall not hold responsible for it if you did not respond
quickly to know the truth because if you did not confirm within 24hrs from
now then we shall carry on with the transfer process.
And if you confirm that he is not your next of kin or never authorized him
then you get an affidavit immediately .
Note: the payment is scheduled to hold within *72 hours* immediately you
get back to us with the above mentioned requirement. You are advised to
contact me on the direct stated above number and E-mail, expecting your
immediate response.
We look forward to hearing from you to enable us to serve you better.
For and on Behalf of, First Bank Of Nigeria.
Yours faithfully,
Mr.Richard Kayode
Financial Controller Manager. First Bank of Nigeria .
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Anti-fraud resources:
