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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to 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.
- 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: Zenith Bank Plc <jbeen0437@gmail.com>
Reply-To: deepakd8311@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2022 21:16:01 -1200
Subject: BANK PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
*From the Desk of*
*Mr Jim Chris*
*PAYING BANKERS*
* PAYMENT NOTIFICATION*
Good Day,
Congratulation your fund that has been lingering for past years have been
released waiting for you to reconfirm all your receiving details to noble
us perfect the transfer of your fund to your nominated bank account or do
you want to receive it through ATM Card or International Bank Draft but
before you can receive this fund you have a little fee of 65$ only to pay.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Jim Chris
Tel: +2347089612839
Supervisor of Internet/Computer
Banking Department
Zenith Bank Plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
