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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:
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Mr Dan Opolo <martinsmrkelly2022@gmail.com>
Reply-To: danopolo123@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2023 12:17:12 -0800
Subject: RE;Compensation payment
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DEAR: BENEFICIARY.
This is to congratulate you for scaling through the hurdles of
screening by the Board of Directors of Central Bank of Nigeria
Compensation payment task
force. Your payment file was approved and the instruction was given to
me to release your payment Worth US$5.700(Five Million Seven Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars Only)and at any of your Options; The
options are as follows:
Bank To Bank Transfer
Diplomatic Cash payment
ATM Card.
Bank Draft(I.C.B.D)
Online Banking(An opportunity to make transfer by yourself)
We look forward for your immediate response to enable us start the
necessary arrangement for the release of the fund to you.
Best regards.
Mr.Daniel Opolo
Director of Payment and wire transfer
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Anti-fraud resources: