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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- +27741919266 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- globalmaxfinancepty@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNIGA NOTIFICATION 2008" <unitednationgrantaward@ymail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 08:26:13 -0600
Subject: Urgent
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that your email address has been selected a winner in
the United Nations International Grant Award for the year 2008. You have
been approved to claim a total sum of $800,000.00. Your Grant Award
Reference no is UNIGA/SA-211 and Batch no FT-654/SA. To begin the process of
claiming your Grant,Do not respond back to this email as you have be
directed to contact your claims agent here in South Africa with the contact
details below as we have notify them of your winning fund;
Global Max Finance Pty.
Contact person: Mr.Jerry Thompson
Tel:+27-741-919-266
Fax: :+27-86-65-28-93
Email:globalmaxfinancepty@yahoo.com.hk
You are required to call and send to your claim officer your reference/Batch
number, your names, address, phone numbers, age and occupation.
Congratulations once more!!!
Sincerely,
Ms.Victoria Smith
Director (Grant Award)
UN International Grant Award.
Anti-fraud resources:
