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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Alex Parker <webinfo776@att.net>
Reply-To: alex_parker1250@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 07:15:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RE: PAYMENT INFORMATION URGENT REPLY
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to notify you of a deposit to be remitted to you from the HFC Bank (GH) LTD which was deposited by our late client This transaction is 100% risk free. this late client deposited the same huge amount of money in our custody and also deposited another amount of money for the expenses of This transaction which you are going to received through ATM CREDIT CARD in your name as a next of kin to enable us carry on this transaction.
Please kindly reconfirm the following information bellow as stated for payment process
Your Full Name:__________________________________
Your Complete Address (Physical Address
with Zip Code not P.O.BOX):________________________
Name of City of Residence :_________________________
Country:________________________________________
Direct Telephone Number: _________________________
Mobile Number:______________________
Fax Number: ________________________
Occupation: _________________________
Age and Sex: _________________________
Am waiting for your urgent response.
Alex Parker,
Head of office, HFC Bank {GH}LTD
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Anti-fraud resources:
