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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:
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: FORD VIN <j_mark100@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: efcccommssion@ymail.com
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:50:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GET BACK TO ME
Attention Sir/ Madam,
I am Mr. JOHN MARK, I work with ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).
There is a ATM CARD worth of $7.5m here in our custody attached
with your email address it is stop by Security Agency (EFCC) Now the Director of the Agency MR WILLIAMS EDWARD has giving Instruction to release the ATM CARD with due process.
I am looking forward to hearing from you so that I can swing into action immediately on how the ATM CARD will be delivered to your door step.
I am awaiting your immediately response for more details.
Thanks
Yours faithfully
JOHN MARK
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Anti-fraud resources:
