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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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)
- 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.
- frepubclicofnigeria@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.JOSe MALLAM" <drjosemallam112@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:26:17 +0100
Subject: URGENT
It was resolved & agreed upon by the board members & directors that your
scam victim compensation fund of $4,700,000.00 (Four Million Seven Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) only will be released to you through our
special payment method which is the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.
You are advised to contact this office with the information below to claim
your fund.
We need your information as where we will be sending the ATM card, such as,
Full Names.......
Address......
Country.......
Phone number.....
Your Age.....
Your Sex......
Note that your payment file will be returned back to the Federal Ministry
of Finance within 72 hours if we did not hear from you. This was the
instruction given to us by the Federal minister of finance (FMF).
Best Regards,
Mr David Camallu.
Chairman National Investigation Agency (NIA)
on Foreign Financial Matters
E-Mail: frepubclicofnigeria@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
