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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.
- 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.
- +447035984714 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447092894599 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mark Gibson" <fighterz------0710@att.net>
Reply-To: dr.markgibson@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:30:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RE-APPROVED GRANT CLAIM
UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND TEAM OF AUDITORS.
Threadneedle Street GB-London EC2R 8AH United Kingdom
TEL +447035984714, FAX: +447092894599
RE-APPROVED GRANT CLAIM
Following the urgent signal received from BANK OF AMERICA (BOA)/BANK OF ENGLAND (BOE) and AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) concerning your GRANT, be informed that your fund will now be effected through an accredited independent financial consultant approved by her Royal Majesty Treasury.
During the auditing and vetting of your files it was discovered from the records of
Outstanding payment which have been delayed by many officials and some of your representatives from the source origin of your fund.
In the light of the outcome of the board of director's meeting held on Wednesday being November 24th 2010, be informed that your name is among the listed BENEFICIARIES to receive US$8.5M which has been delayed.
You are therefore required to fill the form below and forward to us to enable the processing of your claim.
CLAIM FORM
SURNAME:…………………………………………………………………..
OTHER NAMES:……………………………………………………………
DATE OF BIRTH:……………………………………………………………
SEX:………………………………………………………………………......
ADDRESS:……………………………………………………………………
TELEPHONE:………………………………………………………………...
FAX:…………………………………………………………………………..
Yours Sincerely,
DRÂ MARK GIBSONÂ
HEAD OF AUDITORS
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Anti-fraud resources:
