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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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: "Hon.Geoffrey Onyeama" <presidency005.ng@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fforeignaffairsminister@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 May 2022 06:33:00 -0700
Subject: hello
--
I am Hon.Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister Foreign Affairs Ministry; my
office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial
institutions in Nigeria
I write to present you to the federal government that you are among
the people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account,on
this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid
certified contract funds.I have every files before me and the date's
will be to change to your name to enable you receive the fund into
your nominated bank account as the beneficiary of the fund's amount
Usd $20 Million .
I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions i
received 2 days ago from the Senate Committee on Contract
Payments/Foreign Debts to submit the List of payment
reports/expenditures and audited reports of revenues. Among several
others, I
have decided to remit this sum following my idea that we have a
deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.
MY CONDITIONS.
1. You will give me 65% of the total contract funds as soon as you
confirm it in your designated bank account.
2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will
be strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.
3. There should be no third parties as most problem associated with
your fund release are caused by your agents or representatives.
If you AGREE with my conditions, l advise you on what to do
immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will
proceed to fix your name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the
three days mandate. I hope you don't reject this offer and have the
funds transferred.
Waiting for your reply soon.
Yours Sincerely.
Hon.Geoffrey Onyeama
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER
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