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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:
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ROBERTO BORGES <robertoborges2002@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: efccoffice64@sify.com
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:36:41 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: ABOUT YOUR PAYMENT.
Sir,
I will advice you take some time, read and digest the message here as it will benefit you on the best way out of solving this fund transfer problem to your designated account. Basically, there are complications in your payment file due to some already clearing restriction of fund remittance. Making further attempt to have the direct wire of the fund to your account without a perfect arrangement will only amount to time wasted. We need perfect result and unhindered transaction.
I spoke with an old friend who is in the financial sector and presently a director with national Irish bank, it is an <a grade> bank. He offered a solution and they are also a corresponding bank of the paying authority.
Though, Mr.Kelvin Gallen he did not have all the details of the transaction but he is aware that we presently have limited document of fund claim or certificate of fund origin. So the fund will be lodged into their bank as cash deposit.
Then you open a non resident offshore account with the bank, from where you can place order of transfer of fund to any designated account and they will also provide you with a visa debit card for worldwide withdrawal.
This arrangement must be kept confidential because of its sensitivity and his position.----Kevin Gallen------ is a director in the bank . So we seek assistance and clarification where need be directly from him.
I can only proceed with this arrangement after I have spoken with you and we have an understanding to implement actions. So it is important you call me as this goes beyond communication through email.
regards
Borges
FOR
Dr. Akin Jones
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Anti-fraud resources:
