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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Aishai Remittance Chief" <millner.roberts@gmail.com>
Reply-To: remitanceaishaioffice@accountant.com
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:46:37 -0500
Subject: YOUR BENEFIT PART-PAYMENT
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*FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA*
*CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA*
*OFFICE OF DIRECTOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE*
*GARKI ABUJA.NIGERIA*
*Attention: Beneficiary*
*How are you today, Have you received the part-payment of (Ten Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars), The Accountant General called me and told me
that the money have been paid to you since Friday last week hence I writing
you to know why you have not written or called to notify us.*
*This Memorandum is to notify you that you will be settled by the Nigerian
Government/ICPC-Nigeria from our initial Deposit Account with First Bank Of
Nigeria Plc. You will be settled with the actual amount which you lost in
your previous transaction, including the actual Funds which you are
supposed to receive as a beneficiary.*
*Your settlement will be actualized within 3 working days after your
response to this Official Letter.*
*For further clarification/investigation kindly send the below
information’s to us immediately:*
*1. Your Full Name and residential address.*
*2. Mobile or Telephone Number and Fax Number (for regular official
contact).*
*3. Your inheritance funds value.*
*4. Amount which you lost previously.*
*This above-mentioned information will officially enable us to carry out
our verification processes and after that, your settlement Funds will be
paid to you accordingly.*
*N:B As soon as you receive this mail, kindly let me know call this
number: +2347047878211*
*Best regards,*
*Mrs. Aishai Ahmed*
*New Director of Foreign Remittance (CBN)*
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Anti-fraud resources:
